Adrian under custody after eluding police

Abdul Khalik and Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Medan

As easy as his escape was from the long arm of the law, the prime suspect in a Rp 1.7 trillion (US$185 billion) state bank fraud Adrian Waworuntu gave up on Friday after one month on the lam.

Police arrested Adrian upon arrival at Polonia Airport in Medan, North Sumatra from Singapore on Friday morning. He was then taken to Jakarta, where the National Police handed him to the prosecutors.

National Police Chief of Detective Comr. Gen. Suyitno Landung Sudjono said the police had managed to persuade Adrian to return to Indonesia, denying earlier reports that Adrian intended to surrender voluntarily after the new president was inaugurated.

"He did not turn himself in. We managed to convince him to enter our jurisdiction from Singapore. After he arrived in Polonia we arrested him," said Suyitno.

Adrian has been named a suspect in the scam that involved Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI), the country's second largest state bank in terms of assets.

His capture may shed some light on his mysterious escape overseas, in which he was somehow able to elude police, prosecutors and immigration officials, despite an official travel ban.

Police internal affairs officers have questioned 30 officers involved in the probe into Adrian's escape, including Economic Crime Director Brig. Gen. Samuel Ismoko. On Thursday, the police headquarters announced the removal of Ismoko from his post due to poor performance, but cleared him of a bribery allegation.

Suyitno would not explain how the police managed to persuade Adrian to fly to Medan.

Adrian said in an interview aired by RCTI television channel he would surrender himself after Oct. 20 to prove that he was a victim of political intervention by former president Megawati Soekarnoputri's regime.

North Sumatra Police chief Insp. Gen. Iwan Pandjiwinata said Adrian was arrested upon his arrival at Polonia Airport at 9 a.m. after flying on a Silk Air flight.

Iwan said several police detectives had monitored Adrian since he was in Singapore, and guarded him on the flight to Medan. Police brought him to Jakarta on Mandala Air.

Adrian appeared to be subdued when he arrived at the National Police headquarters. Police kept Adrian from journalists until he emerged from a round of questioning.

"It doesn't matter how I came here. The important thing is that I am already here," he told the press.

Adrian's escape has made headlines nationwide because there was strong speculation that he had bribed police officers to help him escape.

The media has reported that one of the suspects in the case, Rudy Sutopo, claimed that Ismoko had received at least $20,000 from Adrian.

Rudy, who is awaiting trial at Cipinang prison, said that Adrian borrowed money for Ismoko and other officers.

He added that all investigators from the Economic Crime Division received between Rp 25 million and Rp 50 million according to their ranks.

In his special interview with RCTI, Adrian denied reports that he had bribed police investigators.

In September, the South Jakarta District court sentenced five directors of Indonesian business group Gramarindo, of which Adrian was an executive, to between eight and 15 years in prison, and BNI executive Edi Santoso to life for his role in the scam.

The other main suspect, Pauline Lomowa, the owner of Gramarindo, remains at large. The Dutch national is reportedly in either the Netherlands or Singapore.

Chronology of Adrian's arrest:

Sept. 2003: Trust magazine reported bank fraud involving BNI Kebayoran Baru branch office.
Oct. 3, 2003: BNI filed the fraud report to police, implicating several people, including Adrian.
Oct. 24, 2003: Police issued arrest warrant against Adrian after he failed to heed summons three times.
Nov. 19, 2003: Police took Adrian under custody.
March 9, 2004: Police released Adrian as his detention period expired.
April-Sept. 2004: Jakarta Prosecutor's Office returned the case file of Adrian seven times.
Sept. 9, 2004: Jakarta Prosecutor's Office accepted Adrian's case file, asking police to transfer the suspect immediately.
Sept. 23: Through his lawyer, Adrian asked for police permit to take a one-week rest at his hometown Manado, North Sulawesi due to ailment. Police approved.
Oct. 1: Adrian failed to appear at National Police Headquarters, declared fugitive.
Oct. 12: Police internal affairs questioned two officers over Adrian's escape.
Oct. 15: Police said Adrian was spotted in Los Angeles.
Oct. 20: Adrian appeared in an interview with RCTI television channel, saying he was ready to surrender.
Oct. 22: Police arrested Adrian at Polonia airport in Medan.