INDONESIA STILL ON LOOKOUT FOR 33 GRAFT FUGITIVES By Fardah

 Jakarta, April 27, 2016 (Antara) - The Indonesian government is still on the lookout for 33 fugitives involved in corruption cases, after successfully arresting three fugitives extradited from overseas.      
     The three fugitives are, Samadikun Hartono, who was arrested in China recently, Totok Aria Prabowo, caught in Cambodia December 2015, and Hartawan Aluwi, who was nabbed in Singapore April 21 this year.

         "Tracking down fugitives is also a policy of the Jokowi-JK (administration). As an assistant, I follow the policy," Chairman of the National Intelligence Agency (BIN) Sutiyoso said recently.

         His office has made a roadmap to hunt down fugitives hiding overseas, Sutiyoso claimed.    
    Among the most notorious fugitives is Eddy Tansil, who escaped from the Cipinang prison in 1996, and most likely fled to China. Tansil was sentenced to 20 years in prison, for embezzling Rp1.3 trillion from Bank Bapindo through the Golden Key Group.

        "I am going to look for them even at the tip of the world. Their best option is to surrender," Sutiyoso said recently.

         Other fugitives wanted for corruption in the BIN list are Sjamsul Nursalim, Hendrawan Haryono, Paul Sutopo Tjokronegoro, and Hendro Budiyanto, in addition to Heru Supratomo, Irawan Salim, Budianto, and Amri Irawan. Also on the most wanted list are, Hendra Liem, Hendra Lee, Lesmana Basuki, and Eko Edi Putranto, apart from Hary Matalata, and Hendro Bambang Sumantri.

         On April 15, 2016, BIN Chief Sutiyoso and Attorney General M Prasetyo witnessed the arrival of Samadikun Hartono, who was extradited by the Chinese government.

         Samadikun Hartono was convicted for corruption in 2003, and sentenced to four years in jail and ordered to pay Rp169 billion (S$17 million) compensation to Indonesia. The Supreme Court upheld the verdict in 2008, but he fled the country before serving time.

         The Chinese authorities detained Samadikun on the suspicion of possessing a fake passport. Before his arrest, Samadikun had reportedly traveled in and out of China frequently by changing his identity. He was arrested in Shanghai, where he was planning to watch a Formula One race.  According to BIN, Samadikun had at least five passports.         
    Samadikun (68), former president commissioner of Bank Modern, is now being detained in the Salemba Penitentiary, Central Jakarta.

         He was found guilty of having embezzled Rp2.5 trillion, or US$190 million, in bailout funds received by the now-defunct Bank Modern from the Bank Indonesia Liquidity Assistance fund during the Asian financial crisis of 1998.

           "We are grateful. The case of Samadikun has been ongoing for the last 13 years. But, thanks to the good cooperation with China, everything has run smoothly," Vice President M Jusuf Kalla said while lauding the extradition. 
   Many more fugitives wanted for corruption could be extradited and jailed in this country if Singapore is willing to sign an extradition agreement with Indonesia, he said.

         Indonesia has also signed an extradition agreement with Australia.

          "But, with a country, where the largest number of people had fled, notably Singapore, there is no agreement. Hopefully, Singapore will change its outlook and will be willing to sign an extradition (agreement)," he remarked April 22.       
   Singapore and Indonesia did sign the Extradition Treaty and Defense Cooperation Agreement as a package in April 2007 in Bali, Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said in response to the media reports on the Vice President's statement. 
   The signing of the package was witnessed by then-President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. In fact, the agreements were signed when Vice President Kalla who was then also the Vice-President of Indonesia, the ministry said in a statement.

         "The article quoted Vice-President Jusuf Kalla as stating that Singapore 'never wants to sign' an extradition agreement with Indonesia, and that 'hopefully, Singapore will change its outlook and will be willing to sign an extradition (agreement),'" the MFA said.

         Kalla's comments are incorrect and misleading, the MFA added.

         Both agreements are currently pending ratification by the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR). Singapore is ready to proceed with both agreements once Indonesia is ready to do so, it stated. 
    "Notwithstanding, Singapore and Indonesia continue to enjoy good bilateral cooperation in law enforcement and in dealing with criminal matters," the MFA remarked.    
     A day before Kalla's comment, on April 21, Singapore deported Indonesian tycoon Hartawan Aluwi, linked to a high-profile fraud case, StraitsTime.com reported.     
   Hartawan Aluwi (54) had fled Indonesia for Singapore in 2008, after he was named as a suspect along with several others for allegedly misusing the government's money amounting to Rp6.7 trillion (S$685.5 million) to bail out the now-defunct Bank Century during the 2008 global financial crisis.

         Singapore Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam had considered Hartawan "an undesirable immigrant ... due to his involvement in fraudulent investment schemes and money laundering activities", his ministry was quoted as saying by the Singaporean daily.

         Meanwhile, Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said April 25 that Indonesia will establish cooperation with Singapore to intensify law enforcement efforts to repatriate fugitives who have fled to the neighboring country.

        "The President has tasked the government with pursuing fugitives, including by forging cooperation with the Singaporean government," Pandjaitan noted.

        The government is taking immediate and firm action against criminals who have fled to foreign countries, according to the minister.

        The minister also urged all fugitives to willingly return to Indonesia.

        "We urge them to return to Indonesia to undergo the legal process. The fugitives will not be meted out undue punishment, and will only be held responsible for what they have done," Pandjaitan emphasized.

         In addition to Singapore, Indonesia has also signed an agreement with China to increase cooperation in the field of law including exchange of intelligence on fugitives.

         Pandjaitan, who was in Beijing for the fifth Indonesia-China dialog on law, security and politics, April 26, said Indonesia has even urged for immediate signing of an extradition agreement between the two countries.

       "So far, we have deported many Chinese citizens who were involved in crimes or with legal problems, living in Indonesia. It is hoped China would do the same and cooperation in the area would be stronger if there is ratification of an extradition agreement," he said. ***2***
(f001/INE)
EDITED BY INE
 27-04-2016 21:45:55