Indonesia Initiates Request for Britain, Saudi Arabia to Extradite Century Suspects

Jakarta Globe, May 10, 2010

The Justice and Human Rights Ministry on Monday said it has requested the extradition of two former PT Bank Century shareholders who have fled graft charges.

Minister Patrialis Akbar told the House of Representatives Commission III for law and legislation that the ministry was now waiting for the official response from the Saudi Arabian government for the extradition of Hesham al Warraq, and the British government for Rafat Ali Rizvi.

Warraq, 57, is a Saudi national while Rizvi, 49, was born in Pakistan but is a British citizen.

Patrialis said both governments were already processing the request.

“Now, we’re just waiting for an official answer,” he said.

Warraq and Rizvi have been charged with stealing Rp 3.1 trillion ($338 million) from Bank Century.

Patrialis added that the ministry has also filed a request for mutual legal assistance to 10 countries where the embezzled state assets were believed to have been hidden.

Those countries include Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, Britain, Luxemburg, Singapore, Bahrain, Australia, the United Arab Emirates, Mauritius.

A team of officials from various state agencies has also asked Swiss authorities to help retrieve cash collateral worth $220 million deposited at Dresdner Bank.

Warraq and Rizvi also allegedly deposited $650 million worth of stolen Bank Century assets in a Standard Chartered Bank account and an additional $388.8 million at ING Bank, both in Hong Kong.

The Attorney General’s Office has said it could seek the death penalty for the two foreigners, as the 1999 Anti-Corruption Law calls for capital punishment for graft crimes committed under special circumstances. Markus Junianto Sihaloho