MEDAN 6 April 2026 (The Capital Post) – Indonesian authorities have detained a fugitive linked to a major church fund embezzlement case upon his arrival from Malaysia, along with his wife, at an airport in North Sumatra.
The suspect, a former bank sub-branch head, was arrested at Kualanamu International Airport after immigration officers identified him and his spouse on a flight manifest from Kuala Lumpur. The arrest followed prior alerts issued by police, who had placed both individuals on a watchlist after they fled the country.
Officials said the couple is accused of involvement in financial crimes, including document forgery and misappropriation of church funds amounting to billions of rupiah. The alleged offences are tied to a Catholic parish in Labuhanbatu, where funds collected from congregants were reportedly diverted for personal use.
Investigations revealed that the suspect had previously promoted a fictitious investment scheme promising unusually high returns to the church, convincing members to deposit funds. Authorities believe the money was instead transferred into personal and company accounts controlled by the couple.
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Police stated that the suspect fled Indonesia earlier this year to avoid questioning, travelling overseas shortly after a formal report was lodged. Law enforcement agencies, including international partners, had been coordinating efforts to track and apprehend him.
Following their arrest, both individuals have been handed over to the North Sumatra Police for further investigation, with authorities indicating that additional suspects may be identified as the probe continues. -The Capital Post