The Case Behind Kresna Life Boss's Arrest in Morocco and Extradition to Indonesia
The flight of Michael Steven, a suspect in the alleged money laundering and default case of PT Asuransi Jiwa Kresna (Kresna Life), has come to an end. After nearly three years on the run, the Kresna Life boss was finally arrested in Morocco. Michael Steven had been a fugitive since September 2023. His name was placed on Interpol’s Red Notice list in November 2025. He was successfully returned to Indonesia after being apprehended by Moroccan security authorities. The repatriation was carried out through an extradition mechanism. This step marks a new chapter in the resolution of the massive default megaproject that caused losses to thousands of customers amounting to trillions of rupiah.
The Kresna Life scandal first came under the scrutiny of the National Police’s Criminal Investigation Division (Bareskrim Polri) in 2020. Michael is one of five suspects in the case handled by the Directorate of Special Economic Crimes at Bareskrim Polri. In this case, the suspects allegedly invested premiums from the K-LITA (Kresna Link Investa) and PIK (Protekto Investa Kresna) insurance products into shares or affiliated securities beyond the limits set by the Financial Services Authority (OJK). Furthermore, the suspects allegedly failed to report investment developments or net asset values to policyholders. As a result, investors reportedly suffered losses of approximately Rp337.4 billion. In this case, the suspects are charged under Article 103 in conjunction with Article 30 of Law Number 8 of 1995 concerning the Capital Market, Articles 378 and 372 of the Criminal Code, as well as Articles 3, 4, and 5 of Law Number 8 of 2010 concerning Money Laundering. Previously, Bareskrim had named the President Director of Kresna Life, KS, as a suspect in the alleged money laundering and insurance embezzlement case. Michael was also a key figure behind Kresna Life, an insurance company that came under the spotlight for failing to pay policyholder claims. The alleged insurance default affected more than 8,000 policyholders, with unpaid liabilities amounting to approximately Rp6.4 trillion.
Michael Steven, a suspect in the Kresna Life default case who fled abroad, was finally arrested in Morocco. He was an Interpol fugitive with Red Notice status. Brigadier General Untung Widyatmoko, Secretary of the NCB Interpol at the Police International Relations Division, stated that Michael Steven was arrested by Moroccan Police on 12 March 2026 at the request of the Indonesian NCB Interpol. Untung said the successful arrest was the result of cooperation between the Police International Relations Division, the Indonesian Ministry of Law, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the State Intelligence Agency, and the authorities of the Kingdom of Morocco. Michael Steven had been on the Interpol wanted list with Red Notice status since November 2025.
Michael Steven arrived in Indonesia after being extradited by the Kingdom of Morocco on Sunday, 21 June 2026. The extradition process was carried out after the Moroccan Government granted the extradition request submitted by the Indonesian Government on 12 June 2026. The handover of the suspect took place on 20 June 2026 in Morocco, before he finally arrived in Indonesia on Sunday, 21 June 2026. Brigadier General Untung stated that the successful extradition demonstrates the commitment of the Indonesian National Police to strengthening international cooperation and taking firm action against criminals who attempt to flee abroad.