Key BNI suspect seen in Los Angeles

Key BNI suspect seen in Los Angeles

Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The National Police have sent a team of police officers to Los
Angeles, California in the U.S. to track down Adrian Waworuntu,
one of the key suspects in the Rp 1.7 trillion (US$185 million)
Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI) scandal, following a report that the
suspect was spotted in the city.

Besides sending the police officers, the National Police also
sent all required documents to U.S. security authorities,
including Adrian's criminal records to ensure the capture of
Adrian, said chief of the National Police Gen. Da'i Bachtiar on
Friday.

The four-star general told reporters that he had also spoken
with the Indonesian Consul General in Los Angeles.

Among the police officers sent to the U.S. was Brig. Gen.
Gorries Mere, who has had experience bringing home criminal
suspects from U.S., according to Da'i.

Gorries made headlines several years ago when he brought home
Harnoko Dewantoro, a suspect in a murder case, and Zarima
Mirafsur, a suspect in a drug case. Both have been prosecuted.

Gorries also made headlines for the Starbucks/Ali Imron fiasco
in August.

The National Police, who have been trying to capture Adrian
over the last few months, embarked on the U.S. venture after an
American detective informed an Indonesian diplomat that he saw
Adrian in Los Angeles.

The Indonesian diplomat then relayed the information to the
police here.

Indonesia has no official extradition treaty with the U.S.,
but previous experience, as shown in Harnoko and Zarima cases,
proves that criminal suspects in the U.S. can sometimes be
captured.

It was made possible through the use of an Interpol link and
other diplomatic methods, including legal mutual assistance.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda informed reporters
that the U.S. immigration office and the FBI had already asked
the Indonesian police to send more specific and complete data on
Adrian.

However, it was apparently no longer a problem because the
police had already sent out all required documents to U.S.
authorities.

Meanwhile, the investigation continued on Friday over Brig.
Gen. Samuel Ismoko, who has been accused of taking a large bribe
from Adrian to let him escape. National Police Internal Affairs
Division Chief Insp. Gen. Supriyadi said on Friday that his
officers were interrogating Ismoko, the director of the economic
crimes division, for allegedly receiving money from Adrian that
led to his escape.

Several media outlets have reported that one of the other
suspects in the case, Rudy Sutopo, the Petindo Group director,
accused Ismoko of taking at least US$20,000 from Adrian, one of
the Gramarindo Group directors. Both companies were reportedly
involved in the massive embezzlement scandal at state-owned BNI.

Rudy, who is being held at Cipinang prison pending his trial,
said that Adrian borrowed money from him in order to give some
"pocket money" to Ismoko before an official trip to Thailand.

He added that all of the investigators from the economic
crimes division received money; between Rp 25 million to Rp 50
million according to their rank.

Supriyadi said that they were now preparing to speak with
Rudy.

Adrian's escape has made headlines of late because many
citizens suspect that he was abetted by the authorities in his
escape.