Former Rector of Aryasatya Deo Muri University (Unadri) in Kupang,\nEast Nusa Tenggara, Yohanes Paulus Bataona, has been named a suspect in\na fraud and embezzlement case involving four individuals. Paulus was\nnamed a suspect by the Kupang City Police Resort (Polresta).<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the time the individual committed his actions, he was a lecturer\nand, if I am not mistaken, had served as rector at a private university\nin Kupang City,\u201d said Kupang City Police Chief, Senior Commissioner\nDjoko Lestri, during a press conference at his office on Thursday\n(9\/7\/2026).<\/p>\n
\u201cThis fraud and embezzlement incident was experienced by four\nresidents of Kupang City, so we have named the individual as a suspect\nfollowing an investigation,\u201d Djoko continued.<\/p>\n
Djoko explained that the case began when Paulus pretended to sell his\n2,000-hectare plot of land to the victims in 2023. After a transaction\nof approximately Rp 100 million took place, he instead evaded them and\nfailed to hand over the land certificate.<\/p>\n
Regarding the embezzlement case, Paulus initially rented two cars and\nthen pawned them without settling the rental fees. Following these\nincidents, the victims filed a report with the Kupang City Police for\nlegal processing.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere were two cars, a Xenia and a Kijang. So the modus operandi of\nthe fraud and embezzlement was that he deceived and convinced the\nvictims to hand over their property,\u201d Djoko stated.<\/p>\n
After being reported, Djoko said, Paulus fled instead. Consequently,\nhis legal status was placed on the wanted list after he ignored police\nsummons.<\/p>\n
At that time, Paulus fled and hid in Surabaya and Banyuwangi. He also\nhid in Banten and Semarang to evade the police.<\/p>\n
Police attempted to pursue him, but Paulus was adept at immediately\nfleeing and moving from place to place. After intensive investigation,\nPaulus\u2019s whereabouts were finally detected in Batam City, Riau Islands.\nWhile in Batam, Paulus was working as a contract teacher at a private\nschool.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe eventually apprehended the individual in Batam City on 4 July\n2026. The arrest process took place at night without any resistance,\u201d\nexplained the mid-ranking police officer, who has since been promoted to\nDirector of Drug Investigation at the East Nusa Tenggara Regional\nPolice.<\/p>\n
Paulus is charged under Articles 486 and 492 of Law Number 1 of 2023\nconcerning the Criminal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of four\nyears\u2019 imprisonment. Paulus is currently being detained for the next 20\ndays at the Kupang City Police Resort.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe total losses amount to hundreds of millions of rupiah. There\nwere losses of Rp 57 million, Rp 75 million, and Rp 100 million,\u201d Djoko\nsaid. He added that Paulus used the proceeds from the fraud and\nembezzlement to pay off debts, essentially robbing Peter to pay\nPaul.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Paulus admitted he was driven to commit the acts because\nhe was mired in debt. After being dunned and feeling cornered, he chose\nto flee because he was unable to repay the money.<\/p>\n
He also expressed deep regret for his actions and apologised to the\nvictims. He promised not to repeat his offences.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am ready to be held legally accountable because materially I\ncannot return the victims\u2019 losses,\u201d Paulus stated.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/former-unadri-kupang-rector-named-suspect-in-fraud-and-embezzlement-case-1783576269", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }