Ade released, but remains a witness

JAKARTA (JP): South Jakarta Police have released veteran singer Ade Manuhutu after he was held for questioning over his alleged involvement in counterfeiting money, an officer said on Monday.

South Jakarta Police chief of detectives Comr. Napoleon Bonaparte said that 54-year-old Ade was released over the weekend because preliminary questioning revealed that he was not involved in counterfeiting U.S. dollars.

"He was released but retains his status as witness, so we can summon him at anytime for further questioning," Napoleon said.

The singer turned preacher, whose song Nona Ana became a huge hit in the 1970s, is required to report to police twice a week, namely every Monday and Thursday.

Jakarta Police Spokesman Sr. Comr. Anton Bachrul Alam said on Monday that the police were also investigating whether he was connected in any way to the counterfeiting of U.S. dollars in Makassar. "But we released him because we didn't have sufficient evidence," he said.

Police in Makassar arrested on Saturday three foreigners in connection with the counterfeit dollars.

Ade was held by South Jakarta Police on Jl. Metro Pondok Indah until the early hours of Saturday morning during which police found items believed to be used for counterfeiting money inside a metallic suitcase he was carrying.

But Ade told police that the suitcase belonged to a friend who had entrusted him with it.

"He (Ade) has told us what he knows about the suitcase and its owner. The suitcase was confiscated as criminal evidence. We hope it will help lead us to the real criminals," Napoleon added.

Police found inside the suitcase several silk-screening tools, paper the size of dollar banknotes, bottles of black ink, plastic wrappers and white chemical powder.

Napoleon said police were still investigating the case and were looking for the owner of the suitcase who Ade described as his friend.

The man, a foreigner identified as "C", was said to be staying at a hotel in Central Jakarta. But he was not there when police raided his room.

Napoleon declined to comment further, saying only that the investigation was underway.

However, a police source disclosed that Ade was under close surveillance as officers needed to crosscheck his information with the owner of the suitcase and if there was a connection between Ade and the foreigner.

"It is very likely that Ade knows about the crime. If he is found to know about it without telling us beforehand, then he could be charged for withholding information," the officer said. (emf)