Disciplinary hearing delayed yet again

JAKARTA: The National Police has postponed for the second time a disciplinary hearing for 16 officers charged with allowing Adrian Waworuntu, a key suspect in the BNI 46 graft scandal, to flee abroad.

Initially scheduled for Thursday, the hearing was delayed until Jan. 18 because Adrian was attending his graft trial at the South Jakarta District Court and could not appear to testify at the policemen's hearing.

Adrian was arrested in the North Sumatra capital of Medan in November after months on the run and was charged with embezzling Rp 1.7 billion (US$188 million) in state funds.

The other witnesses, PT Gramarindo executives Nirwan Ali, Arif Ishartono and Rudy Sutopo, could not appear for unclear reasons.

"As the witnesses were not present, we had to postpone the hearing ...," National Police deputy spokesman Brig. Gen. Soenarko said as quoted by Detik.com.

It is not clear as to why two hearings involving the same individuals were scheduled on the same day.

The hearing had initially been set for Tuesday, but was delayed until Thursday because the police found difficulties in summoning the witnesses.

The 16 officers, said deputy director of the fraud squad Brig. Gen. Bambang Premantoro, were charged with violating the disciplinary code and causing Adrian's escape. -- JP