Police rule out extraditing Oki to the U.S.<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta Police Chief Maj. Gen. Mochammad
\nHindarto ruled out yesterday the possibility of extraditing
\nHarnoko Dewantono, alias Oki, who is wanted by the United States
\nin connection with a murder in Los Angeles last year.<\/p>\n
Hindarto told reporters that, in the absence of an extradition
\ntreaty between Indonesia and the United States, the possibility
\nmust be ruled out at this stage. Even if the United States
\nformally requested extradition, Indonesia would not hand him over
\nwithout due consideration, he said.<\/p>\n
Thirty-year old Oki, currently in Jakarta Police custody, is
\nwanted for questioning by the Los Angeles Police Department in
\nconnection with the murder of two Indonesians and an Indian
\ncitizen, whose decomposed bodies were discovered in a storage
\nlocker last August.<\/p>\n
Last December, Los Angeles Police identified the three bodies
\nas Gina Sutan Aswar, 30; Eri Tri Harto Darmawan, Oki's 28-year-
\nold brother, both Indonesian citizens, and Surish Michandani, an
\nIndian national who ran a laundry business in Los Angeles.<\/p>\n
Following identification, police issued a warrant for the
\narrest of Oki, whom they say is the main suspect in the case.<\/p>\n
Hindarto said Oki was arrested in Jakarta last Saturday in
\nconnection with allegations that he falsified a number of
\npassports.<\/p>\n
He added that Oki now acknowledges guilt of the charges.<\/p>\n
This is a departure from his earlier stance, in which he said
\nthat he did not forge any passports. Oki has also told
\ninvestigating officers that he had nothing to do with the murders
\nin Los Angeles.<\/p>\n
Hindarto said local investigations are not directed towards
\nthe murder allegations. \"To this day, we have not received any
\nrequest from the United States to question him in connection with
\nthe murders.\"<\/p>\n
Maj. Gen. Koesparmono Irsan, Deputy Chief for Operational
\nAffairs at National Police Headquarters, said on Monday that
\nIndonesia has written to the Federal Bureau of Investigation
\nrequesting documents in support of the Los Angeles Police
\nDepartment's charges against Oki.<\/p>\n
He also indicated that Indonesia would prefer that any trial
\nbe held in Indonesia and not the United States.<\/p>\n
Legal experts say Oki would almost be certain to get the death
\npenalty if he was tried and convicted in the United States.<\/p>\n
Hindarto said Oki told investigating officers that he had
\nforged a passport chiefly to obtain duty reductions on his
\nbelongings when he returned from California.<\/p>\n
Oki had used his brother Eri's passport, whose status was that
\nof a student, and replaced the photograph with one of his own.<\/p>\n
\"That's forgery,\" Hindarto said.<\/p>\n
Asked about the involvement of a psychiatrist during
\nquestioning, Hindarto said this was standard procedure.<\/p>\n
Immigration officials said yesterday they were ready to help
\nthe police in the investigation of the passport forgery
\nallegations.<\/p>\n
Earlier reports alleged that Oki had at least three passports.<\/p>\n
Rahardi Suro Prawiro, director for supervision and penalties
\nat the Directorate General of Immigration, said some people may
\npossess more than one ID card and this makes it possible for them
\nto make more than one passport.<\/p>\n
When asked about Oki's immigration status, Rahardi said, he is
\nnot barred from leaving the country because he is not wanted in
\nconnection with any murder allegations in Indonesia.
\n(emb\/bsr\/imn)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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