Graft led to Adrian's escape, experts say

Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Observers demanded on Sunday a thorough investigation into officers allegedly involved in the escape of Adrian Waworuntu, a key suspect in the Rp 1.7 trillion (US$185 billion) BNI scandal, saying it could reveal widespread bribery involving the police.

Lawyer Pradjoto said it had become an open secret police investigators would take money offered to them by a suspect in exchange for their release from detention or charges.

"Adrian's case is just the tip of the iceberg. Many more unpublished cases end unsettled. Remember that all suspects in the corruption or bank scandal cases posse a huge amount of money. They can bribe any officer to escape justice," Pradjoto told The Jakarta Post.

He said it should be impossible for Adrian to slip through the police's fingers the without help or cooperation of investigators. Like all those declared a suspect Adrian was closely monitored by the police, a policy they had to prevent him from escaping.

Following the interrogation of seven investigators of the BNI scam, the police admitted officers had violated regulations, which had led to Adrian's escape.

The police are now questioning the National Police director of the financial crimes division, Brig. Gen. Samuel Ismoko, the chief investigator of BNI case, for allegedly receiving US$20,000 from Adrian.

Another lawyer, Frans Hendra Winarta, said Adrian's escape highlighted a systemic failure of the police to resolve corruption and other white collar crimes.

"People can't buy the police promises they will soon solve corruption cases. If (the police) cannot recapture Adrian, I'm afraid they will lose all public faith in their abilities," Frans said.

He proposed the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) intervene to take over all corruption cases the police were unable to settle.

During the past year the police have had little success in resolving other high-profile corruption and banking scandals in the country, including the Rp 20.9 trillion misuse of Bank Indonesia Account No. 502 and the Rp 900 billion State Logistics Agency (Bulog) scam.

In the BNI case, which involves several BNI officials and executives, police have managed only to bring to court seven officials of BNI's Kebayoran Baru, while other alleged key suspects along with Adrian and Maria Pauline Lumowa, remain free or at large.

Maria, an Indonesian-born Dutch citizen who owned Gramarindo Group which received the BNI money managed to flee the country before the police unveiled the case.

In the central bank's Account No. 502 case, the police at one time said they were investigating several high-ranking officials from Bank Indonesia, the now-defunct Indonesian Banking Restructuring Agency (IBRA), and individuals from private companies, but have never declared any of them suspects.

In the Bulog case, police were forced to release all the suspects due to their failure to submit solid evidence to the prosecutor's office.

Graft cases subject of police investigations 2003-2004

No. Case Potential state losses Status

1. BNI Kebayoran Baru Rp 1.3 trillion *no assets have

been returned

*key suspects on

the run

2. BI Account No. 502 Rp 20.9 trillion *under police

investigation

*no suspects

declared

3. Bulog scam Rp 841 billion *all suspects

released

*case file

rejected

4. BRI-pension fund Rp 200 billion *no suspects

declared

*under police

investigation

5. BDB-Asiatic scam Rp 1.7 trillion *several suspects

named

*no detentions

6. Generators mark-up Rp 4.2 billion *one suspect

in Aceh named

*Aceh governor

Abdullah Puteh

questioned as

witness