Singapore’s Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon on Thursday, October 2, 2025 dismissed a renewed bid by Indonesian fugitive Paulus Tannos to be released on bail, considering that his health conditions do not meet the legal threshold of being “sick or infirm.”

Tannos, 71, has been detained in Changi Prison since January 2025 after his arrest by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB). He is wanted by Indonesia in connection with a massive corruption scandal linked to the government’s electronic ID card project, which allegedly caused state losses of Rp2.3 trillion (US$140 million).

His case marks the first extradition proceeding under the treaty between Singapore and Indonesia, which came into effect in 2024. Tannos has repeatedly resisted being sent back to Jakarta, with extradition hearings beginning in June.

Lawyers for Tannos argued that his ischemic heart disease and diabetes made him eligible for bail under the “sick or infirm” exception. They proposed a broader interpretation of the law that would cover severe illnesses, not only conditions unmanageable by the prison system.

But state prosecutors countered that his ailments are stable, citing a medical opinion from Changi General Hospital and pointing out that in 2024 he had actively traveled and even competed in a table tennis tournament.

Chief Justice Menon upheld the lower court’s interpretation, emphasizing that the law only permits bail if the Singapore Prison Service (SPS) cannot reasonably and safely manage the condition. He noted that SPS was providing Tannos with medication, a low-sugar diet, and access to specialist care if necessary.

“This leads me to the conclusion that the applicant does not suffer from any sickness or infirmity that cannot be managed by the SPS safely,” he said.

Flight risk concerns

The court also ruled that Tannos remains a high flight risk, pointing to his multiple foreign passports − including one from Guinea-Bissau under the name João Paolo Gomes − and inconsistent explanations about how he obtained them.

State Counsel Vincent Leow described this as “troubling,” arguing that while Tannos has lived in Singapore for about a decade, he maintains ties abroad and has the means to abscond.

Chief Justice Menon stressed that public interest requires Singapore to honor its extradition treaty obligations, noting this was a key factor in the strict approach to bail exceptions under the Extradition Act.

With bail denied, Tannos will remain in remand as his extradition proceedings continue in the State Court.