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)