Zarima's arrest in U.S. receives mixed reactions

Zarima's arrest in U.S. receives mixed reactions

JAKARTA (JP): The arrest of Ecstasy fugitive Zarima by Jakarta
detectives in Houston, America, got a mixed public reaction.

Few people contacted by The Jakarta Post yesterday saluted
Indonesian police for their remarkable work in tracking down
Zarima.

But many questioned whether the police could bring Zarima back
to Indonesia to be tried because of several obstacles, like the
legal grounds of the detectives and the FBI in arresting Zarima
and the absence of extradition treaty between the U.S. and
Indonesia.

Some doubted the woman arrested was Zarima.

Here are some of the comments made:

Yanto, a car mechanic: "If it's the real Zarima, the public
must dock their caps to the police for their remarkable work in
chasing the female fugitive around almost half the world. Then
again, if it's true, the police should also have to trace the
whereabouts of Eddy Tansil (escaped from Cipinang penitentiary
here) and arrest him."

Agung, a businessman at the downtown Glodok business district:
"I'd already thought since the beginning that the Jakarta police
detectives would all do their best to arrest Zarima in order to
improve their image after she escaped while being escorted by the
head of the Tangerang police detectives, Capt. Ade Sutiana. It's
a good job but we all hope the arrest of Zarima will not lead the
police to 'create' a fake story and evidence just to free Capt.
Ade."

Criminologist Adrianus Meliala: "The news of the arrest of
Zarima is a heavy slap in the face for all responsible officials,
including the police and immigration officials, who recently
claimed they had closed all exits throughout the country. So,
it's not a good news at all.

The real good news will be when the police are able to arrest
all members of the syndicate Zarima works for and make everything
clear so there'll be no more rumors about the alleged role of
relatives of a high-ranking official in the syndicate of Zarima.

As of today, the public still has questions about how Zarima,
who was arrested with such a large number of Ecstasy pills in her
possession, could escape from a police escort and fly to America.

I've been informed that police knew Zarima was hiding in the
States quite a long time ago but could do nothing until they
received the green light from an official.

So, the public should not entirely believe the flow of
official news about the arrest of Zarima because there's
important big news that we should know, that is, about who's
behind the syndicate."

A lawyer who refused to be named: "It's a good work but I
fully doubt whether the Jakarta police with the help of FBI could
bring Zarima back to Jakarta. It's not an easy job for them
because there are a lot of legal procedures they have to do, it
might take quite a long time."

Pranajaya, a documentary staffer at a publishing firm: "I'm
still in doubt if the woman arrested in Houston is the real
Zarima. Because, you know, many police officers nowadays have
properly planned their targets (to do a good job) and for that
they're willing to do anything, including plotting the arrest of
a famous wanted criminal."

Ambon, a third grade junior high school student in South
Jakarta: "Well done. Thumbs up for our police. But I hope that
she will get tough punishment. If the police have caught the
'queen", it's time for them to get the 'king'. We will be free
from Ecstasy then." (bsr/sur)