Police rule out extraditing Oki to the U.S.

Police rule out extraditing Oki to the U.S.

JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta Police Chief Maj. Gen. Mochammad Hindarto ruled out yesterday the possibility of extraditing Harnoko Dewantono, alias Oki, who is wanted by the United States in connection with a murder in Los Angeles last year.

Hindarto told reporters that, in the absence of an extradition treaty between Indonesia and the United States, the possibility must be ruled out at this stage. Even if the United States formally requested extradition, Indonesia would not hand him over without due consideration, he said.

Thirty-year old Oki, currently in Jakarta Police custody, is wanted for questioning by the Los Angeles Police Department in connection with the murder of two Indonesians and an Indian citizen, whose decomposed bodies were discovered in a storage locker last August.

Last December, Los Angeles Police identified the three bodies as Gina Sutan Aswar, 30; Eri Tri Harto Darmawan, Oki's 28-year- old brother, both Indonesian citizens, and Surish Michandani, an Indian national who ran a laundry business in Los Angeles.

Following identification, police issued a warrant for the arrest of Oki, whom they say is the main suspect in the case.

Hindarto said Oki was arrested in Jakarta last Saturday in connection with allegations that he falsified a number of passports.

He added that Oki now acknowledges guilt of the charges.

This is a departure from his earlier stance, in which he said that he did not forge any passports. Oki has also told investigating officers that he had nothing to do with the murders in Los Angeles.

Hindarto said local investigations are not directed towards the murder allegations. "To this day, we have not received any request from the United States to question him in connection with the murders."

Maj. Gen. Koesparmono Irsan, Deputy Chief for Operational Affairs at National Police Headquarters, said on Monday that Indonesia has written to the Federal Bureau of Investigation requesting documents in support of the Los Angeles Police Department's charges against Oki.

He also indicated that Indonesia would prefer that any trial be held in Indonesia and not the United States.

Legal experts say Oki would almost be certain to get the death penalty if he was tried and convicted in the United States.

Hindarto said Oki told investigating officers that he had forged a passport chiefly to obtain duty reductions on his belongings when he returned from California.

Oki had used his brother Eri's passport, whose status was that of a student, and replaced the photograph with one of his own.

"That's forgery," Hindarto said.

Asked about the involvement of a psychiatrist during questioning, Hindarto said this was standard procedure.

Immigration officials said yesterday they were ready to help the police in the investigation of the passport forgery allegations.

Earlier reports alleged that Oki had at least three passports.

Rahardi Suro Prawiro, director for supervision and penalties at the Directorate General of Immigration, said some people may possess more than one ID card and this makes it possible for them to make more than one passport.

When asked about Oki's immigration status, Rahardi said, he is not barred from leaving the country because he is not wanted in connection with any murder allegations in Indonesia. (emb/bsr/imn)