Big-fish fugitives located, govt claims

JAKARTA: The government said on Thursday it had identified the whereabouts of a number of convicted graft defendants who had absconded abroad, and vowed to bring them home to serve their jail terms.

"We'll hunt down these big-time fugitives no matter where they hide," Attorney General Abdul Rahman Saleh said after a meeting with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

However, Abdul Rahman refused to give any details of the whereabouts of the fugitives, including Sudjiono Timan, who was jailed for misusing Bank Indonesia liquidity support funds (BLBI).

The state's highest prosecutor said the government was pressing ahead with its efforts to sign extradition treaties with other countries, particularly Singapore, where it is alleged many Indonesian fugitives seek shelter.

Apart from that, the authorities would continue to avail of Interpol's help to recapture the fugitives, said National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar.

"We'll use this approach if the extradition attempts fail," he said.

Abdul Rahman said that chief security minister Widodo Adi Sucipto, who heads a team set up to hunt the fugitives, is arranging funding for its operations. --JP