Authorities still in dark over Adelin

Authorities still in dark over Adelin

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta, 20th November 2007

Law enforcement agencies have yet to locate suspect Adelin Lis who went missing after his recent acquittal for illegal logging charges at Medan District Court.

Junior Attorney General for Intelligence Wisnu Subroto told The Jakarta Post on Monday his office was still investigating Adelin's whereabouts. Adelin is wanted for questioning over money laundering charges.

"We have yet to receive reports from authorities abroad on his presence. Our intelligence officers are still looking for him," he said.

"With his passport confiscated, he would find it difficult to slip out of the country.
National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Sisno Adiwinoto told the Post "there is a 50:50 chance Adelin is still in Indonesia".

"Adelin may have used a forged passport, as he possess huge financial resources and strong networks within the bureaucracy."

Sisno said the police were still searching for him.
Earlier on Saturday, Wisnu said his office received reports Adelin's name was not on any passenger lists at the country's airports and seaports.

"It is highly likely Adelin is still in the country, but he ... could have left ... via an unofficial gateway through Indonesia's porous borders."

Adelin was arrested at the Indonesian Embassy in Beijing last year. He was acquitted of illegal logging and corruption, allegedly costing the state some Rp 119 billion and US$2,9 million, by the Medan District Court on Nov. 5.

Many people believe the logging boss has already left Indonesia because of a two-day window before he was issued an official travel ban by immigration.

It is widely believed the two-day delay was caused by prosecutors who were late filing the ban with immigration. The ban was issued on Nov. 7, two days after Adelin was released.
Wisnu, however, dismissed the allegations saying prosecutors filed the travel ban on Nov. 5 but it was not until Nov. 7 that the immigration office sent a notification of a delay due to "some problems in administration".

Intelligence observer Wawan Purwanto said Adelin most likely fled during that window.
"It is almost impossible to expect Adelin to surrender himself. The most important thing is to also monitor his family as he will surely contact his family," he told the Post on Monday.
"We can also expect some help from Interpol."

Wawan also suggested that prosecutors should immediately freeze Adelin's assets. (dic)