Police powerless to apprehend Maria
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