Adrian finds sanctuary in Singapore

Adrian finds sanctuary in Singapore

Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

It looks increasingly unlikely that Adrian Waworuntu, a key
suspect in the Rp 1.7 trillion (US$190 million) Bank Negara
Indonesia (BNI) scandal, will be brought to justice, after it was
announced on Wednesday that the fugitive had fled to Singapore.

Police said they had traced Adrian to Singapore after finding
flight records showing that he left Los Angeles for the city-
state last week.

"He is now in Singapore. We found his name on fight records
from Los Angeles to that country. We have sent officers there to
cooperate with Singaporean authorities to arrest him," said
National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Paiman.

However, Indonesia does not have an extradition treaty with
Singapore.

Paiman said the police would use every possible means to bring
Adrian back to Indonesia to face trial.

A police source said officers met with the fugitive at the
Raffles Hotel in Singapore.

"We can't arrest him there because we don't have an
extradition treaty with Singapore. It now depends on the
Singaporean government and whether it wants to help Indonesia or
not," the source said.

Television station RCTI broadcast on Wednesday morning an
interview with Adrian. In the interview, the suspect claimed he
was made a scapegoat in the bank scandal by the regime of
Megawati Soekarnoputri.

"That is why I will surrender to police after Oct. 20 to prove
that I am innocent," said Adrian, referring to the date on which
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is inaugurated as the new president.

It was not clear when the interview took place.

Maria Pauline Lumowa, the main suspect in the scandal, is also
in Singapore, where she moves around freely and has given several
TV interviews.

Several suspects in the misuse of Bank Indonesia liquidity
support funds, including David Nusa Wijaya, have also been able
to avoid justice here by fleeing to Singapore.

Singapore has declined to sign an extradition treaty with
Indonesia.

National Police detectives chief Comr. Gen. Suyitno Landung
Sudjono said on Wednesday his officers would do their best to
bring Adrian back to Indonesia.