Soeharto suggests Oki be tried in Indonesia: Oetojo

Soeharto suggests Oki be tried in Indonesia: Oetojo

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto suggested yesterday that
Harnoko Dewantono, alias Oki, be tried in Jakarta for the triple
murder that he allegedly committed in Los Angeles, Minister of
Justice Oetojo Oesman said.

Oetojo told reporters that he learned of Soeharto's feelings
at one of his sessions with the president, during which he
brought the president up to date on the on-going investigation of
Oki.

Oki is wanted for the murder of two Indonesians and an Indian
national in Los Angeles between 1991 and 1992.

The United States government has formally asked that Indonesia
expel 30-year-old Oki from the country so that he can be arrested
and tried in Los Angeles. His expulsion has been requested as
Indonesia and the United States do not have an extradition
treaty.

The Attorney General's office, however, has yet to make up its
mind about Oki, who has been under police custody since early
January.

There were concerns that the prosecutors did not have
sufficient evidence to ensure conviction as most of the material
evidence and witnesses are in Los Angeles.

Asked for Soeharto's opinion of the matter, Oetojo said:
"There were indications pointing in that direction (that Oki be
tried in Indonesia)," Antara reported.

This is the first time that the President has commented
publicly on the Oki case, which has been in newspaper headlines
since the first week of January.

Earlier on, the government appeared to be wavering on the
question of where to try Oki. It first insisted on trying him
here. Later, when legal experts warned that the unavailability of
much evidence might undermine the prosecutors' case, there were
suggestions that they send Oki back to Los Angeles.

Soeharto's remarks are expected to weigh in on the Attorney
General's ruling.

Oetojo gave two reasons yesterday why Oki should be tried in
Indonesia.

The first is a matter of jurisdiction. Since Oki was arrested
within Indonesia's jurisdiction, he is entitled to be tried under
the Indonesian law, he said.

The second is a matter of protection. Oki is entitled to the
protection granted the Indonesian law, he said.

The minister also recalled that Indonesia readily cooperated
with the United States by handing over two American servicemen
who were caught selling illegal drugs at a discotheque in Jakarta
in February last year. The two were subsequently tried and
convicted by a court in Guam.

He said that it takes two to cooperate, and therefore, if the
United States is now asking for Oki's expulsion, Indonesia is
asking the United States to allow him to face trial in this
country.

Asked if the United States was refusing to hand over the
material evidence now in the hands of the Los Angeles police,
Oetoyo responded: "Let's see what happens."

In a related development, lawyer of Oki's family Ruhut
Sitompoel said that he has sent a letter to the President early
this week asking Soeharto's willing to decide the venue of trial
in Jakarta.

"I absolutely believe that the President will fulfill our
request as Oki is an Indonesian citizen and by law that he has to
be tried here," Ruhut said. (emb/bsr)