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)