Alleged Aussie spy to be sent home

JAKARTA (JP): Udayana Military Commander Maj. Gen. Kiki Syahnakri said on Saturday he had been informed that an Australian sergeant serving with the United Nations peacekeeping force in East Timor would be sent home under suspicion of espionage.

Speaking in Denpasar, Bali, Kiki said the commander of the peacekeeping force, Lt. Gen. Jaime de los Santos, had confirmed Indonesian police suspicions that former militiaman Paul Tallo Alberto, 25, had been spying under orders of a Sgt. Person.

Paul was detained on April 6 and has been in Kupang for questioning since Tuesday.

During the interrogation, Paul claimed he was instructed by Person to spy on the activities of militias along the East Timor- East Nusa Tenggara border, especially to see if the militias were being given assistance by the Indonesian government.

Paul claimed he was paid Rp 100,000 for four days of planned work between April 6 and April 9. However, he was arrested before he could file any reports.

He added that he had also been promised employment at the UN Transitional Authority in East Timor office in Maliana if his mission was successful. (lem)