Ambassador confirms Hendra's arrest

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Ambassador to Australia Wirjono Sastrohandoyo confirmed on Friday the arrest of Hendra Rahardja, one of Indonesia's most wanted white-collar criminal suspects, by the Australian Federal Police last week.

"My staff and I have not yet met the detainee face to face, but we strongly believe that the man currently locked up by the Australian police is Hendra Rahardja as stated in a notice sent recently to the embassy by the Australian attorney general," Wirjono told The Jakarta Post from Canberra.

Hendra fled the country two years ago following the liquidation of his two banks -- Bank Harapan Sentosa (BHS) and Bank Guna International.

However, there is speculation that the man arrested by Australian police at Kingsford-Smith International Airport in Sydney on June 1 is not the right man, following remarks made by Hendra's former lawyer, Alamsyah Hanafiah.

Alamsyah, who was Hendra's lawyer at the time his banks were liquidated, told the Post on Thursday night that Hendra's relatives, including those living overseas, had told him the former bank owner was not in police custody and was abroad.

The lawyer was unable to be reached on Friday for further comment.

Hendra's arrest was announced by National Police chief Gen. Roesmanhadi on Thursday.

According to the secretary of Interpol's National Central Bureau, Brig. Gen. Wayan Ardjana, Hendra was arrested at the Sydney airport after a flight from Hong Kong.

Hendra, the brother of fugitive Eddy Tansil, allegedly fled the country to avoid arrest following the liquidation of his two banks, which have total assets worth an estimated Rp 4.7 trillion (US$602.6 million).

When asked last night about Alamsyah's findings, officer Wayan said: "They (the lawyer and Hendra's relatives) can say whatever they want but we, the police, insist that the man is the real Hendra, who has been wanted by the country for years."

The officer speculated that Hendra's relatives attempted to hide the shameful story of the fugitive's arrest.

Wayan claimed the identity of Hendra had been verified against copies of fingerprints, passports and photographs sent by Jakarta to Sydney authorities shortly after the arrest.

Both Wayan and Ambassador Wirjono acknowledged the extradition of Hendra would not be imposed by the Australian government in the immediate future.

"Basically, the process of extradition won't be too complicated, but it takes time due to the legal process," Wirjono said. (bsr)