Police to process Maria's trial

JAKARTA: The National Police continues to gather evidence for the trial of Maria Pauline Lumowa, a prime suspect in the Rp 1.7 trillion (US$185 billion) BNI scandal, later this month.

The police fraud squad director Brig. Gen. Andi Chaeruddin said on Tuesday that Maria will be scheduled for trial in absentia by the end of this month.

"Currently, the police are examining bank transfers and bank accounts related to the BNI scandal. We have frozen around 140 accounts that are suspected of violating Law No.25/2003 on money laundering," Andi said.

Andi added that the investigation had reached 80 percent, therefore, he hoped the trial could be scheduled late this month.

So far the police are unable to locate Maria, a Dutch citizen born in Indonesia, although she is reportedly living in Singapore.

Adrian Waworuntu, the other main suspect in the BNI scandal, is on trial at the South Jakarta Court. -- JP