Graft led to Adrian's escape, experts say<\/p>\n
Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Observers demanded on Sunday a thorough investigation into
\nofficers allegedly involved in the escape of Adrian Waworuntu, a
\nkey suspect in the Rp 1.7 trillion (US$185 billion) BNI scandal,
\nsaying it could reveal widespread bribery involving the police.<\/p>\n
Lawyer Pradjoto said it had become an open secret police
\ninvestigators would take money offered to them by a suspect in
\nexchange for their release from detention or charges.<\/p>\n
\"Adrian's case is just the tip of the iceberg. Many more
\nunpublished cases end unsettled. Remember that all suspects in
\nthe corruption or bank scandal cases posse a huge amount of
\nmoney. They can bribe any officer to escape justice,\" Pradjoto
\ntold The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
He said it should be impossible for Adrian to slip through the
\npolice's fingers the without help or cooperation of
\ninvestigators. Like all those declared a suspect Adrian was
\nclosely monitored by the police, a policy they had to prevent him
\nfrom escaping.<\/p>\n
Following the interrogation of seven investigators of the BNI
\nscam, the police admitted officers had violated regulations,
\nwhich had led to Adrian's escape.<\/p>\n
The police are now questioning the National Police director of
\nthe financial crimes division, Brig. Gen. Samuel Ismoko, the
\nchief investigator of BNI case, for allegedly receiving US$20,000
\nfrom Adrian.<\/p>\n
Another lawyer, Frans Hendra Winarta, said Adrian's escape
\nhighlighted a systemic failure of the police to resolve
\ncorruption and other white collar crimes.<\/p>\n
\"People can't buy the police promises they will soon solve
\ncorruption cases. If (the police) cannot recapture Adrian, I'm
\nafraid they will lose all public faith in their abilities,\" Frans
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He proposed the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK)
\nintervene to take over all corruption cases the police were
\nunable to settle.<\/p>\n
During the past year the police have had little success in
\nresolving other high-profile corruption and banking scandals in
\nthe country, including the Rp 20.9 trillion misuse of Bank
\nIndonesia Account No. 502 and the Rp 900 billion State Logistics
\nAgency (Bulog) scam.<\/p>\n
In the BNI case, which involves several BNI officials and
\nexecutives, police have managed only to bring to court seven
\nofficials of BNI's Kebayoran Baru, while other alleged key
\nsuspects along with Adrian and Maria Pauline Lumowa, remain free
\nor at large.<\/p>\n
Maria, an Indonesian-born Dutch citizen who owned Gramarindo
\nGroup which received the BNI money managed to flee the country
\nbefore the police unveiled the case.<\/p>\n
In the central bank's Account No. 502 case, the police at one
\ntime said they were investigating several high-ranking officials
\nfrom Bank Indonesia, the now-defunct Indonesian Banking
\nRestructuring Agency (IBRA), and individuals from private
\ncompanies, but have never declared any of them suspects.<\/p>\n
In the Bulog case, police were forced to release all the
\nsuspects due to their failure to submit solid evidence to the
\nprosecutor's office.<\/p>\n
Graft cases subject of police investigations 2003-2004<\/p>\n
No. Case Potential state losses Status<\/p>\n
1. BNI Kebayoran Baru Rp 1.3 trillion *no assets have<\/p>\n
been returned<\/p>\n
*key suspects on<\/p>\n
the run<\/p>\n
2. BI Account No. 502 Rp 20.9 trillion *under police<\/p>\n
investigation<\/p>\n
*no suspects<\/p>\n
declared<\/p>\n
3. Bulog scam Rp 841 billion *all suspects<\/p>\n
released<\/p>\n
*case file<\/p>\n
rejected<\/p>\n
4. BRI-pension fund Rp 200 billion *no suspects<\/p>\n
declared<\/p>\n
*under police<\/p>\n
investigation<\/p>\n
5. BDB-Asiatic scam Rp 1.7 trillion *several suspects<\/p>\n
named<\/p>\n
*no detentions<\/p>\n
6. Generators mark-up Rp 4.2 billion *one suspect<\/p>\n
in Aceh named<\/p>\n
*Aceh governor<\/p>\n
Abdullah Puteh<\/p>\n
questioned as<\/p>\n
witness<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/graft-led-to-adrians-escape-experts-say-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }