Hendra's lawyers fight extradition
Hendra's lawyers fight extradition
JAKARTA (JP): Lawyers of fugitive banker Hendra Rahardja asked
a Sydney court on Tuesday not to meet Jakarta's call for the
defendant's extradition, citing a strong anti-Chinese sentiment
among indigenous Indonesians, Antara reported.
Defense lawyers presented to the hearing of Hendra's case at
the Central Sydney Local Court a researcher on the ethnic Chinese
minority in Indonesia, Charles Coppel, who supported their
argument, the agency reported from Sydney.
The author of Tionghoa Indonesia Dalam Crisis (Chinese-
Indonesians in Crisis) told the court that he personally was also
worried the extradition of the defendant could bury other major
scandals in Indonesia, particularly the Rp 546 billion (about
US$80 million) Bank Bali scandal, the agency said.
Hendra's team of lawyers, Tym Game, Dean Jordan and Ron
Kessel, said also that the extradition of their client would be
politicized, the agency reported.
The lawyers were quoted as saying that Hendra's case would be
further influenced by the Indonesian authorities mainly because
of his Chinese descent.
It would also be complicated by "the anti-Chinese riots there
in May last year," Game told the court, which was presided over
by Judge Brian Anthony Lulham.
Hendra's lawyers presented another scholar on Indonesia,
Timothy Lindsey, during the extradition hearing. The defendant
made the list of Indonesia's most wanted bankers before being
arrested on June 1 by immigration officials at Kingsford-Smith
International Airport in Sydney.
He was apprehended on a warrant from Indonesian authorities
circulated through the Interpol network. Hendra fled the country
in November 1997, following liquidation of two of his banks: Bank
Harapan Sentosa (BHS) and Bank Guna International.
Hendra is the brother of escaped prisoner Eddy Tansil, who is
still at large after bribing wardens and walking out of Cipinang
Penitentiary three years ago. Hendra was charged by the
Indonesian authorities for corruption by avoiding accountability
for his banks' debts.
The Indonesian authorities were represented by four members of
the Australian Public Prosecutors office, led by Peter Hastings,
Antara reported.
During the session, expert witness Coppel told the court about
the ethnic Chinese minority, their powerful business networks and
close links with the government, the agency said.
The trial was adjourned until Wednesday to hear testimony from
noted expert on Indonesia Harold Crouch from the Australian
National University, who was presented by the Indonesian
authorities. (bsr)