Police say Oki to be charged for murders

Police say Oki to be charged for murders

JAKARTA (JP): Police convinced members of the House of
Representatives that Hernoko Dewantono, alias Oki, the main
suspect in a triple murder in Los Angeles, will face murder
charges.

"We're absolutely sure he'll be tried," National Police Chief
Gen. Banurusman Astrosemitro told House members overseeing legal
affairs yesterday.

"I really hope that no one thinks the suspect will be released
or that the case will be closed," said the four-star general.

Based on their investigation, which included the collection of
data and information in Los Angeles, Jakarta police believe Oki,
30, killed Gina Sutan Aswar, his younger brother Tri (Eri) Harto
Darmawan and his Indian business partner Suresh Mirchandani.

Although the city police have not revealed details, a reliable
source told The Jakarta Post recently that Suresh was tortured
and shot to death in August 1991 and Gina was battered to death
on Nov. 2, 1992 in Kentfield Brentwood in Los Angeles. Eri was
beaten to death at an apartment on Palm Boulevard also in Los
Angeles several days after Gina's death.

The bodies of the three victims had been kept in a storage
locker since May 1993 before being found by the Los Angeles
police in August last year.

It's strongly believed that the local police delayed
announcing the details because the Los Angeles police have
refused to hand over evidence the Indonesian police need to
satisfy the prosecutor's office and the court.

Oki was apprehended here on Jan. 7 for alleged passport
forgery and was later questioned about the murders.

The police have already handed over the dossiers on Oki's
alleged role in falsifying passports but have yet to submit the
murder dossiers to the prosecutor's office.

Oki's trial for forgery will be held next Wednesday at the
South Jakarta District Court, deputy head of the court Doris A.A.
Taulo confirmed yesterday.

According to Banurusman, completion of the murder dossiers "is
underway".

The police are still presenting the case to prosecutors from
the City High Court in order to meet all prerequisites and allow
the prosecutors to study the case in detail.

"If there's a need to ask for the delivery of other material
evidence to complete the dossiers, we'll ask (the American police
to send it to us)," Banurusman said. (bsr/imn)