Top Indonesian politician who was hailed by Donald Trump could be declared a fugitive in US$170 million corruption case
Anti-corruption police allege a network of about 80 people used the introduction of a US$440 million electronic identity card system in 2011 and 2012 to steal more than a third of the funds
Indonesia’s anti-graft commission said on Thursday it will declare the speaker of parliament a fugitive if he does not turn himself in after being accused of involvement in the theft of US$170 million of public funds.
Investigations into the major multimillion-dollar corruption scandal in Indonesia took a surprise twist late on Wednesday with Setya Novanto, one of the country’s most high-profile politicians, apparently fleeing to avoid a warrant for his arrest. Novanto was nowhere to be found when investigators and police arrived at the politician’s private residence to arrest him.
Commission spokesman Febri Diansyah said its law enforcement team was still searching for Novanto, who was once hailed by US President Donald Trump as one of Indonesia’s most powerful men.
“We urge him to surrender,” Diansyah said via text message. “We’ll consider declaring him a fugitive if he is uncooperative.”
Anti-corruption police allege a network of about 80 people, mostly officials and legislators, and several companies used the introduction of a US$440 million electronic identity card system in 2011 and 2012 to steal more than a third of the funds.
