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)