Hendra's lawyers fight extradition<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Lawyers of fugitive banker Hendra Rahardja asked
\na Sydney court on Tuesday not to meet Jakarta's call for the
\ndefendant's extradition, citing a strong anti-Chinese sentiment
\namong indigenous Indonesians, Antara reported.<\/p>\n
Defense lawyers presented to the hearing of Hendra's case at
\nthe Central Sydney Local Court a researcher on the ethnic Chinese
\nminority in Indonesia, Charles Coppel, who supported their
\nargument, the agency reported from Sydney.<\/p>\n
The author of Tionghoa Indonesia Dalam Crisis (Chinese-
\nIndonesians in Crisis) told the court that he personally was also
\nworried the extradition of the defendant could bury other major
\nscandals in Indonesia, particularly the Rp 546 billion (about
\nUS$80 million) Bank Bali scandal, the agency said.<\/p>\n
Hendra's team of lawyers, Tym Game, Dean Jordan and Ron
\nKessel, said also that the extradition of their client would be
\npoliticized, the agency reported.<\/p>\n
The lawyers were quoted as saying that Hendra's case would be
\nfurther influenced by the Indonesian authorities mainly because
\nof his Chinese descent.<\/p>\n
It would also be complicated by \"the anti-Chinese riots there
\nin May last year,\" Game told the court, which was presided over
\nby Judge Brian Anthony Lulham.<\/p>\n
Hendra's lawyers presented another scholar on Indonesia,
\nTimothy Lindsey, during the extradition hearing. The defendant
\nmade the list of Indonesia's most wanted bankers before being
\narrested on June 1 by immigration officials at Kingsford-Smith
\nInternational Airport in Sydney.<\/p>\n
He was apprehended on a warrant from Indonesian authorities
\ncirculated through the Interpol network. Hendra fled the country
\nin November 1997, following liquidation of two of his banks: Bank
\nHarapan Sentosa (BHS) and Bank Guna International.<\/p>\n
Hendra is the brother of escaped prisoner Eddy Tansil, who is
\nstill at large after bribing wardens and walking out of Cipinang
\nPenitentiary three years ago. Hendra was charged by the
\nIndonesian authorities for corruption by avoiding accountability
\nfor his banks' debts.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian authorities were represented by four members of
\nthe Australian Public Prosecutors office, led by Peter Hastings,
\nAntara reported.<\/p>\n
During the session, expert witness Coppel told the court about
\nthe ethnic Chinese minority, their powerful business networks and
\nclose links with the government, the agency said.<\/p>\n
The trial was adjourned until Wednesday to hear testimony from
\nnoted expert on Indonesia Harold Crouch from the Australian
\nNational University, who was presented by the Indonesian
\nauthorities. (bsr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/hendras-lawyers-fight-extradition-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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