Quarantine office head removed for bribery<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Justice Muladi has temporarily
\nremoved the acting head of the city's immigration quarantine
\noffice from his post for allegedly receiving a Rp 40 million
\nbribe in exchange for the release of two foreigners, an official
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Immigration Coordinator for Jakarta's office of the Ministry
\nof Justice, Hamsuk Santa Widjaja, was quoted on Saturday by
\nAntara as saying that Wishnu Daru Fajar would be further
\nquestioned for allegedly accepting a bribe and freeing two
\nChinese nationals who had been arrested for possessing fake
\npassports.<\/p>\n
The two foreigners were freed after being held for a day at
\nthe immigration quarantine office, Hamsuk said.<\/p>\n
\"It remains unknown whether he (Wishnu) will only be
\nreassigned or dismissed. His case is still under investigation,\"
\nthe official said.<\/p>\n
The official, however, did not give details on when Wishnu's
\ntemporary leave began.<\/p>\n
The head of the immigration office at Soekarno-Hatta
\nInternational Airport, Sudirman, has assigned a temporary
\nreplacement for Wishnu.<\/p>\n
According to Hamsuk, Wishnu has already been questioned
\nseveral times about the case by immigration officials.<\/p>\n
During the questioning, Wishnu admitted that the two Chinese
\nand a Cameroonian were brought to his office on Nov. 19 last year
\nat about 7:30 p.m. by two officials from the immigration
\ndirectorate office.<\/p>\n
\"On that evening, Masful Thaib, our chief security guard,
\nreceived the three foreigners and put them in their cells,\"
\nHamsuk quoted Wishnu as telling the investigators.<\/p>\n
Several hours later, a woman calling herself Ibu Lisa offered
\nWishnu Rp 40 million for the release of Lin Fei Long, alias
\nJukimin, and Ho Chie Siuen, alias Soetijoso Tjitro Soemarto.<\/p>\n
The woman also told Wishnu that she would introduce him to
\nsomeone who would guard the two Chinese nationals and guarantee
\nthat they would not leave the country.<\/p>\n
\"I accepted the deal and on the afternoon of Nov. 20, 1998, I
\nmet Ibu Lisa and the person who was to watch the two men -- a
\nwoman called Ibu Meiliani Kho -- in room 336 of Hotel Indonesia,\"
\nWishnu told investigators.<\/p>\n
False identity<\/p>\n
Two days later, officials from the immigration directorate
\nvisited Wishnu's office to question the two Chinese men, Hamsuk
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Wishnu attempted and failed to contact Meiliani Kho through
\nwhat turned out to be a false cellular phone number and home
\naddress.<\/p>\n
The officials from the immigration directorate who were
\nassigned to question the two suspects about a syndicate that
\nproduces and distributes fake Indonesian travel documents were
\nangry that the two Chinese men had been released.<\/p>\n
\"We were really upset with the quarantine officials. They
\nshould have known that it wasn't easy to arrest the two suspects.
\nWe hoped that the two would reveal details about the syndicate
\nproducing fake Indonesian passports,\" said one of the official,
\nwho asked to remain anonymous.<\/p>\n
According to Hamsuk, Wishnu could be charged with violating
\ngovernment regulations and fired from his post.<\/p>\n
\"He should have asked the permission of his superior, the head
\nof the immigration office at Soekarno-Hatta International
\nAirport, before letting the two foreigners leave quarantine.\"<\/p>\n
\"It's an absolute violation of the existing rules,\" Hamsuk
\nsaid. (bsr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/quarantine-office-head-removed-for-bribery-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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