Police powerless to apprehend Maria

BANDUNG: The National Police admitted on Wednesday they were having difficulties in bringing home Maria Pauline Lumowa, a prime suspect in the Rp 1.7 trillion (US$185 billion) BNI scandal, for prosecution in Indonesia.

Maria, a Dutch citizen and an Indonesian by birth, is reportedly living in Singapore.

Her foreign nationality and the absence of an extradition treaty with Singapore has made it difficult for the Indonesian authorities to prosecute her in Jakarta, National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said in Bandung, West Java.

"Maria can easily move from one country to another, and there is nothing we can do. Based on the results of our investigation, she has left Singapore. However, we will continue to trace her whereabouts," he added. --JP