'Kidnap victim' declared fugitive

Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

Police have put out an all points bulletin on a businessman who earlier reported being kidnapped and tortured.

Setiadjie Munawar has been a fugitive since June 15 after he failed to respond to a summons from the police to answer questions about a related fraud case in which he has been named a suspect.

A lawyer for two of the suspects in the kidnapping case, Donny Gultom, said the police told him they could not locate Setiadjie.

"The police have summoned him three times ... His failure to appear means he is afraid of something he has done," Gultom, who represents businesspeople Trisna Wijaya and Dwi Retno Ningsih, told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

Trisna and Dwi filed a police complaint against Setiadjie for document forgery and defrauding them of Rp 2.6 billion (US$270,833).

"Setiadjie claimed he could help my clients obtain a Rp 600 billion loan from state Bank Mandiri, but that he needed Rp 2.6 billion to secure the loan. But there was no follow-up from him," Gultom said.

On April 1, Setiadjie accused the managing partner of Arsyad and Associates law firm, Trijono Arsyad, his wife Lisa Lukitawati, PT Marketlinkindo Persada director Dwi Retno Ningsih and PT Buana Samudra Jaya president director Trisna Wijaya of abducting and torturing him.

In his police complaint, Setiadjie accused the four of beating him around the head and drilling holes through the palms of his hands.

In response to the complaint, police arrested Trijono and Lisa on April 12 and detained Dwi Retno and Trisna shortly after.

Dwi Retno and Trisna were released after 20 days in custody, while Trijono and Lisa remain in custody. All four are expected to go on trial next month.

Police said they had submitted the case files on the suspects to the prosecutor's office, which recently announced the case was ready for trial.

"We are ready for trial. But it will be strange if the alleged victim and witness Setiadjie is on the run. How can they proceed with the trial if there is no victim or witness?" Gultom said.