STILL UNKNOWN WHEN GAYUS TO BE BROUGHT HOME

Jakarta, March 30 (ANTARA) - Law and Human Rights Minister Patrialis Akbar said he still did not know when Gayus Tambunan, a tax official wanted for corruption, would be returned to Indonesia from Singapore.

But his passport had been impounded so that he could not leave Singapore for other countries, the minister told newsmen after a meeting with National Police Chief General Bambang Hendarso Danuri here Tuesday.

Indonesian immigration authorities had told their Singapore counterparts about Tambunan's case and the false data he had given when applying for his passport, he said.

Due to the fact that his passport had been impounded , the only way for Tambunan to leave Singapore would be using a special travel document which the Indonesian embassy in Singapore could issue.

The special travel document was only valid for one trip to Indonesia, Akbar said, adding that he did not know when Tambunan would be brought home.

Indonesian police investigators were in Batam Island and Singapore to capture and bring Tambunan home.

Akbar said the fugitive left Indonesia for Singapore before his name was blacklisted by the Indonesian immigration authorities.

Tambunan's case came into the public spotlight after the police named him suspect in connection with a suspicious Rp25 billion in his bank account.

Following the discovery of irregularities in the investigation of the case the police set up a special team of investigators.

It was former chief detective Commissioner General Susno Duadji who was the first person to disclose the irregularities.

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