Police could arrest Hong Lie if requested: Gen. Banurusman

JAKARTA (JP): National Police Chief Gen. Banurusman Astrosemitro said yesterday that the police could only ask Interpol to help arrest entertainment businessman Hong Lie under the request of prosecutors.

"Ordinarily, the police's job is finished with the trial of the case," Banurusman told reporters after inaugurating the newly-founded City Police Center for Medical Health Service and Information.

Hong Lie, 39, alias Herry Cahyadi, has been named by the city police chief, Maj. Gen. Dibyo Widodo, as one of the city's most wanted persons for his alleged role in last year's killing of his competitor, Nyo Beng Seng, 54.

According to Banurusman, the ongoing trial of two suspects in the killing could be brought to an end by the prosecutors if Hong Lie, currently in Singapore, is subpoenaed to appear in court to testify.

So far, the court has not been able to identify the person who masterminded the killing of Beng Seng, alias Darmansyah Suyadi, who was brutally stabbed by a group of masked men in front of his second wife's house on Jl. Pluit Kencana Raya 128 in Pluit, North Jakarta on April 15, 1994.

Two of the masked men, who have been arrested and are currently being tried, told the court that they had not planned to kill Beng Seng. They confessed that they were only asked by someone named Ahak to collect debts from Beng Seng.

They admitted that they later stabbed the victim only after Beng Seng began shouting robbers at them.

Also both suspects could not understand how their slight stabs to Beng Seng's hands could lead to his death.

Beng Seng, owner of PT Irama Tara recording firm and a number of night clubs and massage parlors, was found dead with several stab wounds to his body.

However, police strongly believe that it was Hong Lie who masterminded the killing, on the grounds that he would be able to take over Beng Seng's position as one of the most powerful gambling brokers in the city.

However, Hong Lie told Indonesian reporters, who met him in Singapore, that the killing of Beng Seng was masterminded by A Guam, alias Ali Leo Kartono, who was in debt to Beng Seng for a huge amount.

Hong Lie also claims that Ali is now involved in a love affair with Beng Seng's second wife, Tuti Sulastri.

Early on Monday, Dibyo Widodo said that the city police put Hong Lie's name on their most wanted list and sent a copy to Interpol (National Central Bureau), at National Police Headquarters, to ask for help in order to arrest him.

City Police claimed that one of the barriers in arresting Hong Lie is the absence of an extradition treaty between Indonesia and Singapore.

When asked about the progress yesterday, Dibyo said that he had yet to receive any further instruction from Banurusman. But he said that his personnel must be well prepared for the operation to arrest Hong Lie.

"We have to prepare well," he said, without giving further details about the plan. (bsr)