Oki's father allowed to encounter son today

Oki's father allowed to encounter son today

JAKARTA (JP): Police finally allowed the father of Hernoko
Dewantono, alias Oki, to meet his 30-year-old son, who has been in
police custody for two weeks on allegations of passport forgery and
a triple murder in Los Angeles.

"I will allow only his father to meet him (Oki) so that the
two can further discuss who will be Oki's lawyers," outgoing City
Police Chief Maj. Gen. Mochammad Hindarto told The Jakarta Post and
Pos Kota at his residence on Saturday.

It will be the first time that Oki sees a member of his family
since being arrested on Jan. 7.

Oki, 30, is in police custody for allegedly falsifying
passports and for his alleged role in the murders of two
Indonesians, including his younger brother, and a businessman of
Indian origin in Los Angeles.

Since his arrest, police had decided not to allow anyone,
including his family and two lawyers appointed by his father, to
see him.

"It was because we needed a straightforward testimony from
him," said Hindarto.

Police feared their questioning of Oki's alleged role in the
murders might be influenced by the visit of outsiders.

A week after his arrest, Oki's father, Hendarno Hendarmin,
appointed executives from the Ruhut Sitompoel, Tommy Sihotang and
Associates as lawyers to defend his son in court.

To seek approval from their client, the lawyers tried to see
Oki last week. They failed but are still trying.

Ruhut Sitompoel, one of the lawyers appointed by Hendarno, was
detained late last year for his alleged role in the torture of a
male servant.

"He (Ruhut) is still a suspect in that case," Hindarto
insisted.

Ruhut is an executive of the powerful Pemuda Pancasila youth
organization.

"I want Oki's father and his lawyers to meet me on Monday, but
only Oki's father will be allowed to see him," Hindarto said.

As of today, Jakarta police have not formally announced Oki to
be a suspect in the triple murder, although Oki has reportedly
admitted his role and the Los Angeles police have issued an arrest
warrant.

During a series of police questioning sessions Oki reportedly
admitted he shot Suresh Michandani, his Indian business partner,
and beat Gina Suitan Aswar, a young Indonesian woman, to death with
a monkey wrench. He also confessed to killing his own brother, Eri
Tri Harto Darmawan, by striking him in the head with a hammer.

"We have to be careful in handling this case. Moreover we are
totally dependent on the Los Angeles police for material evidence
and witnesses' testimonies," he said.

"That's why we have sent detectives to Los Angeles to collect
evidence and question witnesses," he said.

Hindarto also said Indonesia and the United States, which have
no extradition treaty, have not yet reached an agreement on the
place of trial for Oki.

Hindarto said Oki's father fervently wants his son to be tried
in the United States.

His father believes his son might be released if the trial is
carried out in America because Oki had allegedly confessed to
committing the murder of his brother in self-defense, he added.

"He said he was forced to kill Eri for self defense after his
brother pointed a gun at him," Hindarto said. (bsr)