Police give conflicting reports on Hendra extradition request
Police give conflicting reports on Hendra extradition request
JAKARTA (JP): Police made contradictory remarks on Thursday in
regard to Indonesia's official request to Australian authorities
for the extradition of Hendra Rahardja, one of the most wanted
Indonesian bankers who was apprehended in Sydney early this
month.
According to National Police chief Gen. Roesmanhadi, a written
appeal has been issued by his staff.
"We've already sent it," he told reporters after attending a
graduation ceremony at the Police Staff College (PTIK).
The four-star general, however, did not elaborate.
Separately at the same occasion, chief of National Police
detectives Brig. Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said a letter of request had
been sent to the Ministry of Justice and was awaiting approval
from minister Muladi.
Meanwhile, secretary of Interpol's national central bureau
Brig. Gen. Wayan Ardjana told The Jakarta Post almost at the same
time on Thursday afternoon that the letter had not yet been
completed.
"My staff are still doing on it and will probably send it for
approval to the minister of justice within the next few days," he
said at his office.
An official request for the extradition of Hendra, whose
extradition case is to be heard in a Sydney court, is required by
Australian authorities for the procedural hearing of the case.
Should Indonesian authorities fail to meet the July 15
deadline, or 45 days after Hendra's arrest which is the maximum
period allowed for Australian authorities to detain a foreigner
wanted by his or her country, Australia might deport Hendra to
Hong Kong.
A procedural hearing at a Sydney court on Wednesday failed to
decide whether Hendra would be extradited due to the absence of a
written request from Indonesian authorities.
Judge Allan Moore adjourned the hearing to July 16, in the
expectation that Jakarta would soon submit an appeal.
According to officer Da'i, the document was sent to Muladi's
office two or three days ago.
He said he had been told by the minister's staff that the
letter was awaiting Muladi's signature.
As of Thursday evening, there had been no statement from the
ministry.
After being signed by Muladi, the document is to be submitted
to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which would officially hand
it over to the Australian authorities, Da'i said.
He believed that Jakarta could still meet the deadline.
"We still can catch it."
Hendra, who fled the country allegedly to avoid responsibility
following the liquidation of his two banks here, was arrested on
June 1 by immigration officers at Kingsford-Smith International
Airport in Sydney.
Upon the arrival of Jakarta's request in Canberra, Hendra will
be questioned in an Australian court about whether or not he
accepts the Indonesian police's request for extradition.
"If he agrees, Jakarta would send police officers to pick him
up. But if he refuses, he could then appeal to a higher local
court," Da'i explained.(emf/bsr)