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Online Citizen
4 days ago
- Online Citizen
Singapore court rejects prosecutors' bid to strike out fugitive Indonesian's CPIB allegations
SINGAPORE: A district court on 28 May rejected an application by the prosecution to strike out portions of affidavits submitted in the bail hearing of Indonesian fugitive Paulus Tannos. The affidavits, said to contain allegations against Singapore's Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB), were not disclosed in court. Tannos, also known as Tjhin Thian Po, was arrested in Singapore on 17 January 2025 by the CPIB following a provisional arrest request from Indonesian authorities. He has been on Indonesia's wanted list since 19 October 2021 for his alleged role in a massive corruption scandal involving the Indonesian government's electronic identification card (e-KTP) project, which resulted in estimated state losses of 2.3 trillion rupiah (S$181.7 million). Tannos was the president and director of Sandipala Arthaputra, a technology firm awarded a contract to produce components for the e-KTP project. According to the Straits Times, Deputy Senior State Counsel Sivakumar Ramasamy told the court on 27 and 28 May that Tannos' defence counsel had requested permission on 15 May to file an affidavit related to his hospitalisation at Changi General Hospital (CGH) between 2 and 9 May. The court granted the request, and two affidavits were submitted—one by Tannos and another by his lawyer, Paulus Sinatra Wijaya. However, Sivakumar argued that both affidavits went beyond the scope permitted. He said parts of Tannos' affidavit addressed his past interactions with the Indonesian authorities and the CPIB, in response to points raised by a CPIB investigating officer regarding his status as a potential flight risk. Sivakumar added that these matters had already been addressed during an earlier bail hearing, and legal arguments had been made on the same issues. On 28 May, Tannos' defence lawyer Bachoo Mohan Singh objected to the prosecution's application to strike out the affidavits. 'I've never come across a scenario where, when a man is fighting for his liberty, he is constrained from saying what he wishes to say,' said Singh. Addressing District Judge Brenda Tan, he added: 'I would not be doing my job if I were to ignore important issues which I consider vital in my client's effort to seek liberty.' He said the defence had no objection to the prosecution filing a response. After hearing both sides, Judge Tan rejected the prosecution's application. 'I'm inclined to leave the further affidavits in the application on record in the interest of justice and completeness, and give the state a chance to respond to this,' she said. However, she told Singh: 'To be fair, you have put in contents which you were not given permission to, so the state has a right of reply.' Separately, Judge Tan referred to a CGH medical report that had been submitted earlier, noting that she personally knew the senior consultant who signed off on it. She asked whether either side had concerns with her presiding over the bail hearing. Both Singh and the prosecution said they had no issue. At the conclusion of the hearing, Tannos again declined to consent to extradition to Indonesia. Under the Extradition Act, fugitives can give consent and waive extradition proceedings. Singapore received Indonesia's provisional arrest request on 19 December 2024. Following a joint assessment by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) and the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC), authorities determined that the request fulfilled the conditions set out in the extradition treaty between both countries. A warrant was subsequently issued and executed on 17 January 2025. Indonesia followed up with a formal extradition request on 24 February. On 10 March, Minister K. Shanmugam confirmed that Singapore was working to expedite the extradition process and reiterated the country's full commitment to upholding its extradition obligations. The Singapore–Indonesia extradition treaty, which came into force on 21 March 2024, covers offences including corruption, money laundering, and bribery, and allows for the retroactive application of the treaty to crimes committed up to 18 years ago. A committal hearing to determine whether Tannos should be extradited to face charges has been set for June.
New Paper
28-05-2025
- New Paper
Corruption reports and cases in S'pore fell to all-time low in 2024
Singapore in 2024 recorded its lowest number of corruption cases yet, both in terms of reports lodged and new cases registered. The Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) received 177 corruption-related reports in 2024, of which 75 were registered for investigation, it said in its release of its annual statistics on May 28. In comparison, there were 215 reports and 81 cases in 2023, and 447 reports and 118 cases in 2016. Of the 177 reports it received in 2024, CPIB said 61 of them were made anonymously. A total of 133 people were prosecuted in court in 2024 for offences investigated by CPIB. The conviction rate for CPIB cases in 2024 was 97 per cent, with four acquittals and three cases pending appeal hearings. Despite the low numbers last year, the national anti-graft agency said recent high-profile corruption cases show that Singapore cannot let its guard down. Citing the cases involving former Transport Minister S. Iswaran and the couple from Citiraya, CPIB said it "will not hesitate to take firm enforcement action against all perpetrators who engage in corrupt activities, including those who try to launder their tainted proceeds". Iswaran was sentenced to 12 months' jail in October 2024 after pleading guilty to five charges. He had obtained valuable items as a public servant from property tycoon Ong Beng Seng. He had also obstructed the course of justice by making payment of $5,700 for a business-class flight he had taken from Doha to Singapore in 2022 at Ong's expense. Iswaran is expected to be released soon, while Ong's case is still before the courts. In the Citiraya case, the then-president of recycling company Citiraya Industries Ng Teck Lee and his wife Thor Chwee Hwa absconded in 2005 when CPIB investigated them for embezzling some US$51 million ($65.7 million). They were arrested in Johor Bahru in 2024 and brought back to Singapore to be charged. Their cases are still before the courts. The number of public sector cases remained low, accounting for just seven of the 75 cases registered for investigation. The remaining 68 cases were from the private sector. Among these, 12 involved officers from the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, the National Environment Agency, and the Singapore Police Force rejecting bribes offered by private sector individuals. Singapore was ranked the least corrupt country in the Asia-Pacific region in 2024 in global anti-graft watchdog Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) report released in February. This was a first for Singapore in 14 years. Singapore was also ranked the third-least corrupt nation in the world, which is the Republic's highest position since 2020, after Denmark and Finland. As part of its release, CPIB also published the results of a 2024 Public Perception Survey, which showed 97 per cent of respondents rating corruption control efforts in Singapore as Good, Very Good or Excellent. This is an increase from 96 per cent and 94 per cent in 2022 and 2020, respectively. CPIB said heavy punishment, effective laws, political determination and a zero-tolerance culture for corruption were cited in the survey as the top factors contributing to the low corruption rate in Singapore. "CPIB continues to take firm enforcement action without fear or favour in corruption cases involving both the public and private sectors," it said. "Singapore's corruption situation remains firmly under control. We will continue to strengthen partnerships with key stakeholders to enhance prevention efforts and amplify anti-corruption messages."
The Star
28-05-2025
- The Star
Corruption reports and cases in Singapore fell to all-time low in 2024
A total of 133 people were prosecuted in court in 2024 for offences investigated by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB). - Photo: ST file SINGAPORE: Singapore in 2024 recorded its lowest number of corruption cases yet, both in terms of reports lodged and new cases registered. The Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) received 177 corruption-related reports in 2024, of which 75 were registered for investigation, it said in its release of its annual statistics on Wednesday (May 28). In comparison, there were 215 reports and 81 cases in 2023, and 447 reports and 118 cases in 2016. Of the 177 reports it received in 2024, CPIB said 61 of them were made anonymously. A total of 133 people were prosecuted in court in 2024 for offences investigated by CPIB. The conviction rate for CPIB cases in 2024 was 97 per cent, with four acquittals and three cases pending appeal hearings. Despite the lower numbers last year, the national anti-graft agency said recent high-profile corruption cases show that Singapore cannot let its guard down. Citing the cases involving former transport minister S. Iswaran and the couple from Citiraya, CPIB said it 'will not hesitate to take firm enforcement action against all perpetrators who engage in corrupt activities, including those who try to launder their tainted proceeds'. Iswaran was sentenced to 12 months' jail in October 2024 after pleading guilty to five charges. He had obtained valuable items as a public servant from property tycoon Ong Beng Seng. He had also obstructed the course of justice by making payment of $5,700 for a business-class flight he had taken from Doha to Singapore in 2022 at Ong's expense. Iswaran, who is currently under home detention, is expected to be released soon, while Ong's case is still before the courts. In the Citiraya case, the then-president of recycling company Citiraya Industries Ng Teck Lee and his wife Thor Chwee Hwa absconded in 2005 when CPIB investigated them for allegedly embezzling some US$51 million (S$65.7 million). They were arrested in Johor Bahru in 2024 and brought back to Singapore to be charged. Their cases are still before the courts. The number of public sector cases remained low, accounting for just seven of the 75 cases registered for investigation. The remaining 68 cases were from the private sector. Among these, 12 involved officers from the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, the National Environment Agency, and the Singapore Police Force rejecting bribes offered by private sector individuals. Singapore was ranked the least corrupt country in the Asia-Pacific region in 2024 in global anti-graft watchdog Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) report released in February. This was a first for Singapore in 14 years. Singapore was also ranked the third-least corrupt nation in the world, which is the Republic's highest position since 2020, after Denmark and Finland. As part of its release, CPIB also published the results of a 2024 Public Perception Survey, which showed 97 per cent of respondents rating corruption control efforts in Singapore as Good, Very Good or Excellent. This is an increase from 96 per cent and 94 per cent in 2022 and 2020, respectively. CPIB said heavy punishment, effective laws, political determination and a zero-tolerance culture for corruption were cited in the survey as the top factors contributing to the low corruption rate in Singapore. 'CPIB continues to take firm enforcement action without fear or favour in corruption cases involving both the public and private sectors,' it said. 'Singapore's corruption situation remains firmly under control. We will continue to strengthen partnerships with key stakeholders to enhance prevention efforts and amplify anti-corruption messages.' - The Straits Times/ANN
The Star
28-05-2025
- The Star
Singapore judge rejects prosecutors' request to strike out fugitive Indonesian's allegations against Corrupt Practices bureau
Indonesian Paulus Tannos, also known as Tjhin Thian Po, was arrested in Singapore on Jan 17. - SCREENGRAB FROM SINGAPORE: An application made by the prosecution to strike out portions of affidavits submitted in a fugitive Indonesian man's bail hearing was rejected by a district court judge on Wednesday (May 28). The affidavits were said to contain allegations against the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB), but these details were not revealed in court. The Indonesian businessman, Paulus Tannos, was arrested on Jan 17 by CPIB over corruption allegations in Indonesia, where he had been on its fugitive list since Oct 19, 2021. On May 27 and 28, Deputy Senior State Counsel Sivakumar Ramasamy argued that the defence counsel representing Tannos had asked for permission to file an affidavit to tender facts in relation to his admission to Changi General Hospital (CGH) in May. Permission was granted for this, but Sivakumar said the two affidavits submitted – one from Tannos and another from a lawyer named Paulus Sinatra Wijaya – were beyond the scope of what the court had allowed. Sivakumar said parts of Tannos' own affidavit covered his past interaction with the Indonesian authorities and CPIB, replying to points made by a CPIB investigating officer on the issue of him being a flight risk. Sivakumar said these were covered in an earlier bail hearing and legal arguments had been made on these issues. On May 28, Tannos' defence lawyer Bachoo Mohan Singh objected to the prosecution's application. He said: 'I've never come across a scenario that when a man is fighting for his liberty, he is constrained from saying what he wishes to say.' Addressing District Judge Brenda Tan, Singh added: 'I would not be doing my job if I were to ignore important issues and issues which I consider vital in my client's effort to seek liberty. 'However, we have no objection to the prosecution filing anything in reply. In the interest of justice, it is only fair they have a say.' After hearing arguments from both sides, Judge Tan rejected the prosecution's application. She said: 'I'm inclined to leave the further affidavits in the application on record in the interest of justice and completeness and give the state a chance to respond to this.' Addressing Singh, the judge added: 'To be fair, you have put in contents which you were not given permission to, so the state has a right of reply.' Separately, the judge referred to a CGH medical report that had been tendered earlier. She said she knows the senior consultant who signed off on the medical report and asked if the defence and prosecution had any issue with her being the judge for the bail hearing. Singh said he had consulted his client, who had no issue with it. The prosecutor also said he had no issue with this. At the conclusion of the hearing on May 28, Tannos again did not give consent to be extradited to Indonesia. Under the Extradition Act, fugitives can give consent to their extradition and waive extradition proceedings. Indonesia put in a formal extradition request for Tannos on Feb 24. The extradition treaty between Singapore and Indonesia took effect on March 21, 2024. It grants extradition for a list of offences, including corruption, money laundering and bribery, and can be retrospectively applied to crimes committed up to 18 years ago. - The Straits Times/ANN
The Star
27-05-2025
- The Star
Prosecution looks to strike out fugitive Indonesian's evidence containing allegations against Singapore's Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau
Indonesian Paulus Tannos, also known as Tjhin Thian Po, was arrested in Singapore on Jan 17. - Photo: Screengrab from SINGAPORE: The prosecution wants to strike out portions of affidavits submitted in a fugitive Indonesian man's bail hearing said to contain allegations against the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB). Paulus Tannos was arrested on Jan 17 by CPIB over corruption allegations in Indonesia, where he had been on its fugitive list since Oct 19, 2021. On Tuesday (May 27), Deputy Senior State Counsel Sivakumar Ramasamy told the court that defence counsel representing Tannos had on May 15 asked for permission to file an affidavit to tender facts in relation to his admission to Changi General Hospital (CGH) between May 2 and 9. After the court allowed this, two affidavits were submitted – one from Tannos and another from a lawyer named Paulus Sinatra Wijaya. Sivakumar said these were beyond the scope of what the court had allowed. He said parts of Tannos' own affidavit cover his past interaction with the Indonesian authorities and CPIB, replying to points made by a CPIB investigating officer on the issue of him being a flight risk. Sivakumar said these were covered in an earlier bail hearing and legal arguments had been made on these issues. He said there was no permission for the second affidavit, which also covered Tannos' interactions with Indonesian authorities and CPIB. Sivakumar said the prosecution was applying for this affidavit and portions of the other one to be struck out and disregarded. One of Tannos' lawyers, Hamza Malik, said this was the first time the defence had been notified of the matter. He asked the court that the application be heard at the start of the bail hearing on May 28, so they could take Tannos' instructions. Sivakumar said he brought this issue up on May 27 so that if the prosecution's application to strike out those parts were not allowed, then it would get permission to file a reply affidavit as Tannos' affidavits contained allegations against CPIB which had to be addressed. He did not specify what these allegations were. District Judge Brenda Tan said she would hear the application on May 28. Separately, the judge referred to a CGH medical report that had been tendered earlier. She said she knows the senior consultant who signed off the medical report and asked if the defence and prosecution had any issue with her being the judge for the bail hearing. While both parties said they had no issue with it, Hamza asked if he could discuss this with Tannos. District Judge Tan agreed that the issue could be addressed on May 28. Tannos, also known as Tjhin Thian Po, was president and director of Sandipala Arthaputra, a technology company awarded a contract to produce part of the Indonesian government's electronic identification card, or e-KTP project. The graft scandal caused state losses of about 2.3 trillion rupiah (S$181.7 million). Tannos is believed to have been living in Singapore since 2012. He was arrested here after the Indonesian government made a provisional arrest request against him. As Tannos fights to be released on bail, a date has been set in June for his committal hearing, which would determine whether he should be extradited to face charges. At the hearing on May 27, he again refused to give consent for him to be extradited to Indonesia. Under the Extradition Act, fugitives can give consent to their extradition and waive extradition proceedings. Indonesia put in a formal extradition request for Tannos on Feb 24. The extradition treaty between Singapore and Indonesia took effect on March 21, 2024. It grants extradition for a list of offences, including corruption, money laundering and bribery, and can be retrospectively applied to crimes committed up to 18 years ago. - The Straits Times/ANN
