Businessman Paulus Tannos contests extradition over $140 million graft case tied to Indonesia’s e-KTP project
In a landmark case under Singapore’s new extradition treaty with Indonesia, fugitive businessman Paulus Tannos is challenging his return to face corruption charges in a high-profile US$140 million scandal involving Indonesia’s electronic ID card program.
Landmark Hearing Under New Treaty
On June 23, 2025, Singapore’s State Courts commenced extradition proceedings against Indonesian fugitive Paulus Tannos. The case marks the first under the Singapore-Indonesia extradition treaty, signed in January 2022 and effective since March 2024. Tannos, 70, is wanted in Indonesia over his alleged role in the e-KTP corruption scandal that caused losses of approximately 2.3 trillion rupiah (S$187 million).
Tannos, also known as Tjhin Thian Po, has been living in Singapore since 2017 and holds a Guinea-Bissau diplomatic passport. Despite claiming to have renounced his Indonesian citizenship, Indonesian media assert he remains a citizen. Arrested on January 17 by Singapore’s Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB), Tannos has been in remand after being denied bail.
Accusations Tied to e-KTP Bribes
Tannos was president director of PT Sandipala Arthaputra, a company in the PNRI Consortium that won the 2011 e-KTP project tender worth 5.8 trillion rupiah. Indonesian authorities allege that Tannos paid bribes to officials to secure the deal:
- US$530,000 to a Ministry of Home Affairs official
- US$3.5 million to ex-House Speaker Setya Novanto, via intermediaries
Novanto has since been sentenced to 15 years in prison, and the official, Sugiharto, received five years. Prosecutors argue these payments unlawfully influenced the project’s tendering process.
Defence Raises Serious Objections
Tannos’ legal team—led by Bachoo Mohan Singh, Suang Wijaya, and Hamza Malik—challenged the admissibility of late-filed affidavits submitted by Indonesia. These supplementary documents, served to the defence on June 12, were not part of the original March filing and were labelled as “manufactured” by the defence.
They also objected to documents that lacked proper authentication, untranslated seals, and unsigned witness statements. Mr. Wijaya argued these breaches violated the extradition treaty’s standards and compromised his client’s legal rights.
Court Continues With Evidence Review
Presiding Deputy Principal District Judge Luke Tan allowed proceedings to continue, noting that objections would be addressed during the hearing. The state clarified that the court need only determine whether there is sufficient evidence to justify extradition—not guilt.
CPIB Chief Special Investigator Alvin Tang testified as the prosecution’s first witness. He detailed the arrest procedure and confirmed receipt of supplementary affidavits from Indonesia in April, which became a point of contention due to their delayed disclosure to the defence.
Treaty Allows Retroactive Prosecution
Singapore’s extradition treaty with Indonesia covers offences like corruption, bribery, and money laundering, and allows retroactive application for offences up to 18 years prior. Tannos has been on Indonesia’s wanted list since October 19, 2021. A formal extradition request was submitted on February 24, 2025.
The hearing will continue until June 25, with state counsels—led by Deputy Solicitor-General Vincent Leow—expected to respond to the defence’s objections.
This case sets a critical precedent for cross-border anti-corruption cooperation between Indonesia and Singapore. For Indonesia, securing Tannos’ extradition could signal stronger enforcement in high-profile graft cases. For Singapore, it is a test of the robustness and fairness of its new extradition framework. As proceedings unfold, both nations and their legal systems are under close watch.
Sources: CNA (2025) , Straits Times (2025)
Keywords: Paulus Tannos, Extradition Hearing, e-KTP Project, Indonesian Corruption, Singapore Indonesia Treaty, CPIB Arrest
