Singapore – The Singapore Ministry of Law (MinLaw) has officially received Indonesia's extradition request for Paulus Tannos, a businessman accused of corruption, marking the first such request since the extradition treaty between the two nations came into effect.

Tannos, a 60-year-old Indonesian businessman, is implicated in a large-scale corruption scandal related to Indonesia's electronic identity card (e-KTP) project. Indonesian authorities allege that Tannos caused state losses amounting to approximately 2.3 trillion rupiah (about 187 billion singapore dollars) through his involvement in the case.

Tannos was the president and director of Shandipala Arthaputra, a technology company that secured contracts within the e-KTP project. He has been on Indonesia's fugitive list since October 19, 2021, and is believed to have resided in Singapore since 2017.

Singaporean authorities apprehended Tannos on January 17, 2024, and Indonesia submitted its formal extradition request on February 24, 2024. The extradition treaty between Singapore and Indonesia, which took effect on March 21, 2024, allows for the extradition of individuals accused of specific crimes, including corruption, money laundering, and bribery. Notably, the treaty has retroactive application for offenses committed up to 18 years prior, enabling the extradition request for Tannos's alleged crimes.

This extradition request is seen as a significant milestone in strengthening law enforcement cooperation between the two countries. The Singapore Ministry of Law has stated that it will thoroughly review the Indonesian authorities' request and proceed with appropriate procedures in accordance with relevant laws and regulations.

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