China asked to arrest fugitive Tansil

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia asked China yesterday to arrest Eddy Tansil if the fugitive businessman was indeed living in China as many have speculated.

Minister of Justice Oetojo Oesman and Chinese Vice Justice Minister Xiao Jianzhang also discussed a possible extradition treaty between the two countries in a three-hour meeting at the former's office.

Oetojo said Eddy may have escaped to his "ancestors' country", China, where he is believed to have a number of businesses. "But I have heard the companies are no longer functioning," he added.

Tansil, the owner of the Golden Key Group of businesses, escaped last May from Cipinang Prison while in the second year of a 20-year prison term. He was convicted on corruption charges in 1994 for swindling Bapindo, a state-owned bank, of Rp 1.3 trillion (US$542 million).

The government believes Tansil has left the country, and China has been mentioned as a possible destination.

Tansil reportedly owns three companies in China, including a brewery and a real estate company. He is also believed to hold several bank accounts in Singapore, Hong Kong, China, and Taiwan.

Xiao, who is on a visit to Indonesia until March 1, declined to comment on Tansil's whereabouts.

Oetojo said details of extradition arrangements between Indonesia and China would be discussed later yesterday.

He said the current extradition treaty between Indonesia and Hong Kong would have to be reviewed in view of the handing back of the British colony to China on July 1.

Oetojo said he asked Xiao to stem the flow of illegal Chinese immigrants into Indonesia.

"We have found some illegal immigrants from China here. Indonesia could be being used as either a transit stop, or even their final destination," Oetojo said. (05)