False President's 'grandson' arrested
False President's 'grandson' arrested
JAKARTA (JP): Police are still questioning a young man who falsely claimed to be a grandson of President Soeharto.
Roy Kurniawan, 22, a resident of Jl. Delima V No. 8 at the Poris Jaya Steel housing complex in Jati Rahayu, Pondok Gede in Bekasi, was nabbed by police Thursday shortly after he met with Bekasi regent Mochammad Djamhari, City Police spokesman Lt. Col. A. Latief Rabar said over the weekend.
Police have formally detained the suspect on charges of extortion and deception.
"The suspect telephoned regent Djamhari claiming himself to be a staff member of home affairs minister Moch. Yogie S.M. several hours before he visited the regent at his office at 12:30 p.m. Thursday," Latief said.
During the telephone conversation, the suspect told Djamhari that someone from the ministry would come to his office and ask for help.
Djamhari, who is an active army colonel, became suspicious about the caller's motives, and immediately contacted officers from the local police station who later joined him in meeting the unexpected guest.
After waiting for some time, Roy, clad in a T-shirt bearing a sign that he is a member of the first family, arrived at the regent office and was received by Djamhari and police officers led by head of the Bekasi crime investigation unit Capt. Edward Pernong.
Roy was then unable to provide a proper explanation when asked about the purpose of his visit, merely claiming that he is a grandson of the president.
During his brief meeting with Djamhari the suspect requested he be given a mansion.
"After looking at his T-shirt and the letters on it which were later found by police to be fake, Ray was brought in for questioning," recounted Latief.
The police also confiscated a stamp and several fake recommendation letters, the spokesman said.
During later bouts of questioning, Roy admitted that he was only attempting to duplicate a trick he picked up from a friend.
The police are still questioning the suspect about the number of victims he has already conned, Latief added. (bsr)