LAPD detectives start to question Oki by phone
LAPD detectives start to question Oki by phone
JAKARTA (JP): Two detectives from the Los Angeles Police
Department (LAPD) have begun directly questioning Hernoko
Dewantono, alias Oki, via long distance telephone calls. Oki is
the main suspect in investigations of a triple murder in Los
Angeles.
The questioning sessions are being held for the purpose of
cross-referencing Oki's testimony and the LAPD's findings,
National Police Chief Gen. Banurusman Astrosemitro told reporters
yesterday after installing Brig. Gen Dibyo Widodo as the new
Jakarta police chief. Dibyo replaced Maj. Gen. Mochammad
Hindarto.
Long-distance interrogations "have also been carried out by
our own detectives who are currently in Los Angeles to
investigate the case," the four-star general said.
"If the LAPD officers need to question the suspect further,
they are welcome to do so," he said.
Oki, 30, has been named by both Jakarta and Los Angeles police
as the main suspect in investigations into the murder of Oki's
brother, Tri Harto Darmawan, known as Eri; Gina Sutan Aswar, an
Indonesian woman; and Suresh Michandani, a business man of Indian
origins.
Gina and Michandani are believed to have undertaken joint
business activities with Oki.
The motive for the murder is not yet known.
The decayed bodies of the three were found inside separate
plastic bags in a Los Angeles storage locker in August last year
and were identified four months later.
Oki was arrested on Jan. 7 on allegations of passport forgery.
While in police custody, he has undergone questioning in relation
to the murder.
A group of four Jakarta police detectives flew to Los Angeles
last week to gather evidence and question witnesses there.
So far, the team has photographed several locations believed
to have been the places where the suspect killed the victims and
stored their bodies temporarily.
They have also collected written testimony from a number of
forensic experts. These witnesses gave their evidence after being
placed under oath at the Indonesian consulate in Los Angeles,
which means that the documents can be used as evidence in an
Indonesian court, Maj. Gen. Hindarto told a press conference on
Thursday.
On the basis of the photos Jakarta police will be able
reconstruct events surrounding the murders, as well as the
murders themselves, Hindarto explained.
Up to yesterday the trial venue had not yet been announced.
There is no extradition treaty between Indonesia and the
United States. Indonesian law would allow Oki to be tried here,
notwithstanding that the alleged crimes were committed in the
United States.
Banurusman said: "Just wait (for the announcement of the trial
venue), because the investigation has not yet been completed. We
need to collect as much evidence as we can." (bsr)