Prosecutors named for Oki's trial
Prosecutors named for Oki's trial
JAKARTA (JP): The chief of the City Prosecutor's Office, Suyoto, has appointed Abdul Muis Gasing to handle the trial of Harnoko Dewantono alias Oki, who is alleged to have falsified Indonesian passports.
Suyoto said during a fast breaking gathering at the attorney general's office that his office has also appointed prosecutor Soeyitno to assist Abdul Muis in the trial.
He said the venue of the trial will be at the South Jakarta District Court. "It will be held after the Idul Fitri celebrations."
Thirty-year old Oki, who was arrested by the police on Feb. 7, is also wanted by the Los Angeles Police Department in connection with the killing of his younger brother, Eri Tri Harto Darmawan, an Indonesian woman, Gina Sutan Aswar, and Suresh Mirchandani, an Indian businessman.
Police sources said Oki forged the passports mainly to obtain duty reductions on his belongings when he returned to Indonesia from California.
Oki allegedly used Eri's passport, identified as a student, and replaced the photograph with one of his own.
Oki is suspected to have at least six passports in six different names.
Suyoto said there is a possibility that the prosecutor's office will summon various witnesses to testify as expert witnesses, such as the director general of immigration.
"So far we do not need the presence of the director general of immigration," he said.
Director General of Immigration Roni Sikap Sinuraya, told reporters on a separate occasion that he is ready to help the city prosecutor's office with the investigation of the passport forgery allegations.
Suyoto also said the city prosecutor is waiting for the result of the police investigation on the three murders, allegedly committed by Oki in Los Angeles between 1991 and 1992, before arraigning Oki.
"We will appoint the prosecutor who will prosecute him in the murder case right after the police have handed over the dossiers," he said.
Last December, the Los Angeles police named Oki as the main suspect in the murders of Gina Sutan Aswar, Eri Tri Harto Darmawan and Surish Mirchandani.
Their decomposed bodies were found in a storage locker last August and were not identified until four months later.
Oki has been in police custody since early January, though he was initially arrested in connection with passport forgery.
The U.S. government earlier this month asked the Indonesian government to deport Oki so that be could be brought to trial in the United States. But there is a strong indication that Oki will be tried in Jakarta.
Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and Security Soesilo Soedarman said on Thursday that the Indonesian government cannot expel one of its own citizens.
According to Soesilo, a formal rejection of the U.S. request is now being drawn up by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (mas)