LA murder probe findings compile

LA murder probe findings compile

JAKARTA (JP): City Police have started compiling all findings
in connection with the Los Angeles triple murder to question more
people domiciled in Jakarta.

"All findings uncovered by Los Angeles Police Department
officers and our police detectives currently investigating the
case in Los Angeles will be compiled to help find individuals who
may have information about the murders," city police spokesman
Lt. Col. Bambang Haryoko told reporters yesterday.

According to the spokesman, both the Los Angeles Police
Department and Jakarta police detectives have almost completed
collecting evidence and questioning people in the United States.

Police have named Harnoko Dewantono, alias Oki, 30, an
Indonesian who has spent many years in the United States, as the
main suspect of the triple murder.

The Los Angeles Police Department has issued a warrant of
arrest for Oki as the prime suspect in the killing of his brother
Tri Harto Darmawan, known as Eri, Gina Sutan Aswar, an Indonesian
woman, and Suresh Mirchandani, 45, a man of Indian origin.

The three, whose bodies were found in a storage locker in
August last year and identified four months later, were believed
to have been killed by the suspect in separate places between
1991 and 1993.

The motive is still unknown but believed to have been business
related. Gina and Suresh were Oki's business partners.

Oki was arrested in Central Jakarta on allegations of passport
forgery early this month but has since then been questioned about
his alleged role in the triple murder following the Los Angeles
Police Department's warrant.

In an effort to further investigate the case, Jakarta police,
which has a limited budget, have sent four detectives to Los
Angeles to gather evidence and testimony from people, forensics
and medical experts.

"They will arrive back on Monday, probably together with Los
Angeles Police Department officers," Bambang said.

Ipunk

So far, police said, at least four people have been questioned
in Jakarta.

They included Oki's ex-wife Anggi Hasti Benjamin Yatim, Oki's
driver Mardi, Oki's ex-girlfriend Ruyalti, known as Ipunk, and
Eri's girlfriend, identified only as F.

Ipunk, wife of the late Rifardi Soekarnoputra who was found
dead at the house of actress Ria Irawan early last year, was
still with Oki in America in 1991 before their relationship
ended.

"We have asked Ipunk to give her testimony again but up to now
we have had no response from her," Bambang said yesterday. "She
may have moved to another place."

During the first questioning session, Ipunk replied to most of
the police questions with "I don't know", a police investigator
said earlier.

According to a number of media reports, Ipunk has been named
as being able to give details concerning the murder of Suresh
Mirchandani.

As police are still investigation the case and discussing the
venue for the trial, the suspect faces the dilemma of naming his
lawyers.

Oki is believed to have named lawyers from Amir Syamsuddin &
Partners to defend him while his father, Hendarno Hendarmin,
named those from Ruhut Sitompoel, Tommy Sihotang & Associates.

Amir, who met with Oki yesterday, told reporters: "Oki has not
changed his decision and I'll try to meet his father (to discuss
the issue) soon."

Critics say that Oki's case has been perceived by city lawyers
as "a valuable and promising means" of promotion. (bsr)