Disciplinary hearing delayed yet again

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