Alleged Aussie spy to be sent home

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)