Fri, 16 Apr 2004

Police to finish BNI scam probe

JAKARTA: The National Police is completing its examination of several documents belonging to fraternal businessmen Jeffrey and Yudi Baso, which are required by the prosecution to charge them with fraud in the Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI) scam.

National Police forensics head Brig. Gen. Dudon Satiaputra said on Thursday he had submitted the examination results on the authenticity of the suspects' signatures to the economic and special crimes head, Brig. Gen. Samuel Ismoko, who would forward the dossiers to prosecutors.

National Police Deputy Spokesman Brig. Gen. Soenarko DA said the latest results would be added to the existing evidence.

"We have fulfilled prosecutors' demand by providing several documents that have been examined by our laboratory to complete the dossiers on Jeffrey and Yudi Baso," said Soenarko.

Soenarko said police were now focusing on completing the case file on Adrian Waworuntu, a key suspect, after it was rejected by prosecutors three times. -- JP

;JP;MTR; ANPAa..r.. Scene-Semarang-bomb 20 years sought for terror suspect JP/4/SCENE

20 years sought for terror suspect

SEMARANG: Prosecutors demanded on Thursday a 20-year jail term for each of four defendants standing trial for possession of explosives with which they had planned to launch terror attacks across the country.

Prosecutors accused defendants Mahmudi Haryono, Joko Ardiyanto, Siswanto and Heri Suyatno with possession of 750 kilograms of explosives, thousands of rounds of ammunitions, firearms and hundreds of detonators. The huge arms cache was discovered last July at their residence in Kalibanteng, western Semarang.

The defendants are being charged under Law No. 15/2003 on terrorism and the Criminal Code, which carry a maximum death sentence.

"The sentence demand is reasonable, as they took part in a crime that has caused widespread fear," prosecutor Gatot Gunarto told the court.

Speaking after the hearing, defense lawyer Yasri Yudha Yahya said the prosecution's demand lacked substantial evidence and was emotional.

"When presented with the evidence, the defendants stated clearly that they did not recognize them. A number of witnesses have also corroborated their statements," he said.

The trial has been adjourned to April 22. -- JP ;JP;MTR; ANPAa..r.. Scene-Alvin-extortion Bogus journalist cheats legislator JP/4/SCENE

Bogus journalist cheats legislator

SEMARANG: House of Representatives legislator Alvin Lie from the National Mandate Party (PAN) ducked an attempt at fraud by a bogus journalist when he appeared on Thursday at a local court to be tried for early campaigning.

Alvin told reporters the extortion attempt took place just as he was leaving the courtroom.

"I spotted this young man who did not interview me, but he approached my wife and asked her for my name card. He said he wanted to interview me, but after a lengthy talk, the conversation went nowhere and I assumed that he just wanted money," Alvin told Antara.

When Alvin asked the bogus reporter for his identification, he presented a press card and personal ID with a name, Widada.

"But when I checked for the media Posisie Demokrasi Indonesia, I found out it was fake and that his ID card had expired. I chased him into the parking lot but he hopped on his motorbike and fled," he said.

He had phoned the number on the press card, only to discover that the line was disconnected. -- Antara