Big-fish fugitives located, govt claims

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