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)