Singapore’s Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) has denied reports that retired Indonesian Army general Suryo Prabowo was detained during his transit at Singapore Changi Airport on Aug. 17.

The authority offered no apology and insisted that the 30-minute questioning at 5:35 am with Indonesia’s former chief of general staff was part of the “screening procedures” for border security. And after completing the interview, he was allowed to board his flight.

“As part of the immigration clearance process, travelers to Singapore may be subjected to additional interview and or screening. These procedures are conducted at all of Singapore’s checkpoints,” the authority said in a statement released via its website on Saturday.

The statement was issued after Indonesian media reports that Suryo was denied entry to Singapore because he was "blacklisted" after he complained on social media about being detained and questioned by the officers.

As quoted by Antara news agency, the Indonesian Military (TNI) Chief General Gatot Nurmantyo called for the Foreign Ministry to lodge a note of protest with the Singaporean authorities for the "hostility" shown to the retired general.

"The TNI has coordinated [with other relevant agencies]. Likewise, the chief of BAIS [the military strategic intelligence agency] has lodged a note of protest with the [Singapore] defense attaché in Indonesia," Nurmantyo stated. (ags)