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)