TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Justice and Human Rights Ministry is always involved when a law enforcement agency repatriates a fugitive from overseas. Two weeks in a row, the Ministry escorted two fugitives back home. The Bank Indonesia Liquidity Assistance (BLBI) corruptor, Adrian Kiki Ariawan, was extradited from Australia three weeks ago. One week later, Anggoro Widjojo, who was charged with attempting to bribe legislators over the integrated radion communication system project, was brought back from China.
Justice and Human Rights Deputy Minister Denny Indrayana explained that when a fugitive is deported, his ministry-represented by the director-general under his authority-would be the Government's 'central authority'. "In the case of Adrian Kiki, the director-general in charge of legal administration would be in the forefront. But in Anggoro's case, the one in front would be the Immigration Office," Denny told Tempo reporter, Anton Septian, last week.
How was Anggoro able to be extradited?
The process was ongoing, communications with the Chinese government had been established. Of course, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) already had their data on Anggoro. Then the Immigration officers followed it up with our colleagues at the Indonesian consulate-general in Guangzhao. After we received reports that Anggoro had been arrested, we began to move. So this was not sudden. Previously, law enforcement authorities communicated and coordinated with their counterparts in China. The repatriation was just part of the process.
What was the communication with the Chinese government?
It was about ensuring that we would be able to work together in the process of arresting and extraditing Anggoro.
How long have you known Anggoro was in China?
For quite some time.
What took so long in arresting him?
It was China's immigation people who arrested him, not us.
Is it true Anggoro had business in China?
Better pose that question to the KPK. Our job has more to do with immigration matters.
Whose idea was it to have Anggoro deported?
He violated an immigration law and had to be brought home.
How was Anggoro able to get a new passport, when his old one was annulled?
We are looking into that internally, i.e. through an investigation by immigration officials. We want to know what documents he used and where he got them from. The process took place overseas, because when he left, he used a passport under the name Anggoro. What happened when he was overseas is now being investigated, both by the KPK as well as the Immigration Office.
By overseas, you mean the Indonesian Consulate-General in Guangzhao?
We're still looking into it.
How did the Immigration Office manage to track him down?
Through an immigration detection system. With that technology, today we will know and trace everyone who crosses borders.
Why was it easy to repatriate KPK fugitives like M. Nazaruddin, Nunun Nurbaetie, and now, Anggoro? Yet, the number of the Attorney General's fugitives who have been repatriated is small and took a longer time.
It's not that the KPK works faster and the Attorney General's Office is slower, or vice-versa. It could be the fugitive is smarter, doesn't leave tracks, so his position cannot be traced. In short, there are a number of factors. First, everything depends on internal coordination between the law enforcement agencies. Secondly, it relies on the effective collaboration between Indonesia and the foreign governments concerned. Some are difficult, others are easy. Thirdly, it depends on the fugitive himself, whether his case involves the law or not.
Such as?
The case on the BLBI fugitive, Adrian Kiki Ariawan. His extradition took a long time because he opposed the extradition process. Meanwhile, fugitives in non-legal cases are harder to trace. Adrian Kiki had been jailed there, so his extradition took a long time. Another fugitive, Nazaruddin, could have done the same in Colombia, if we had not anticipated it. (*)