Expelled diplomat faces probe at home

Expelled diplomat faces probe at home

JAKARTA (JP): An Indonesian diplomat who was expelled by the
Tanzanian government for alleged illegal possession of game
trophies this week will face an investigation from the
authorities on his return, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said
yesterday.

The ministry regretted the violation of the law committed by
the diplomat that led to him being made persona non grata by the
host country.

The statement said the diplomat, who was not identified, was
not a member of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs but had been
seconded to the Dar Es Salaam embassy by a "technical
department".

The ministry will hand him over to the proper authorities on
his return, scheduled for today, to face an investigation and
punishment if found guilty. The ministry will also impose
sanctions in accordance with its jurisdiction, the statement
said.

Media reports from Dar Es Salaam identified the diplomat as
Sungong Sugiyono, an administrative attach at the embassy.

The Tanzanian foreign ministry said customs officers inspected
the Indonesian embassy premises on April 9 and found 19 leopard
skins, 12 elephant tusks, one crocodile skin, one python skin,
three ivory walking sticks and six ivory carvings.

The diplomat was given 48 hours to leave the country.

This is the third time illegal wildlife trophies have been
confiscated from Indonesian diplomats since 1989, according to
reports from Dar Es Salaam.

The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned all its
diplomats and non-diplomatic staff at embassies abroad yesterday
to abide by international laws regulating diplomatic relations
and obey the national laws in the countries where they are
accredited. (emb)