Quarantine office head removed for bribery

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Justice Muladi has temporarily removed the acting head of the city's immigration quarantine office from his post for allegedly receiving a Rp 40 million bribe in exchange for the release of two foreigners, an official said.

Immigration Coordinator for Jakarta's office of the Ministry of Justice, Hamsuk Santa Widjaja, was quoted on Saturday by Antara as saying that Wishnu Daru Fajar would be further questioned for allegedly accepting a bribe and freeing two Chinese nationals who had been arrested for possessing fake passports.

The two foreigners were freed after being held for a day at the immigration quarantine office, Hamsuk said.

"It remains unknown whether he (Wishnu) will only be reassigned or dismissed. His case is still under investigation," the official said.

The official, however, did not give details on when Wishnu's temporary leave began.

The head of the immigration office at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Sudirman, has assigned a temporary replacement for Wishnu.

According to Hamsuk, Wishnu has already been questioned several times about the case by immigration officials.

During the questioning, Wishnu admitted that the two Chinese and a Cameroonian were brought to his office on Nov. 19 last year at about 7:30 p.m. by two officials from the immigration directorate office.

"On that evening, Masful Thaib, our chief security guard, received the three foreigners and put them in their cells," Hamsuk quoted Wishnu as telling the investigators.

Several hours later, a woman calling herself Ibu Lisa offered Wishnu Rp 40 million for the release of Lin Fei Long, alias Jukimin, and Ho Chie Siuen, alias Soetijoso Tjitro Soemarto.

The woman also told Wishnu that she would introduce him to someone who would guard the two Chinese nationals and guarantee that they would not leave the country.

"I accepted the deal and on the afternoon of Nov. 20, 1998, I met Ibu Lisa and the person who was to watch the two men -- a woman called Ibu Meiliani Kho -- in room 336 of Hotel Indonesia," Wishnu told investigators.

False identity

Two days later, officials from the immigration directorate visited Wishnu's office to question the two Chinese men, Hamsuk said.

Wishnu attempted and failed to contact Meiliani Kho through what turned out to be a false cellular phone number and home address.

The officials from the immigration directorate who were assigned to question the two suspects about a syndicate that produces and distributes fake Indonesian travel documents were angry that the two Chinese men had been released.

"We were really upset with the quarantine officials. They should have known that it wasn't easy to arrest the two suspects. We hoped that the two would reveal details about the syndicate producing fake Indonesian passports," said one of the official, who asked to remain anonymous.

According to Hamsuk, Wishnu could be charged with violating government regulations and fired from his post.

"He should have asked the permission of his superior, the head of the immigration office at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, before letting the two foreigners leave quarantine."

"It's an absolute violation of the existing rules," Hamsuk said. (bsr)