AUSTRALIA DELIVERS RAHARDJA'S CRIME PROCEEDS
8 December 2009
Australian Minister for Home Affairs Brendan O’Connor today delivered to the Indonesian Minister for Law and Human Rights Patrialis Akbar, more than AUS$493,000 recovered from the criminal activities of the late Hendra Rahardja.
“The recovery of the proceeds of crime is a result of the considerable hard work and determination by the joint Australian and Indonesian task force into Mr Rahardja’s criminal activities in Australia and abroad,” Mr O’Connor said.
“The success of the task force is symbolic of the close and effective working relationship between Australia and Indonesia in combating the shared threat of transnational crime.”
Hendra Rahardja and his associates were convicted of corruption in Indonesia, in relation to fraudulent loan arrangements with the PT Bank Harapan Sentosa but Mr Rahardja died before he could be extradited to Indonesia.
These funds are in addition to more than A$637,000 repatriated to Indonesia from assets confiscated in Australia in 2004.
The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Cth) allows the Australian Government to make a payment to another country of proceeds of unlawful activity recovered under Commonwealth law, where a foreign country has worked with us on the recovery of those proceeds.
“The Australian Government is committed to working closely with Indonesia on international crime cooperation matters and that relationship has already resulted in important outcomes, including the recovery of criminal proceeds,” the Minister added.
Media Contact: Brian Humphreys 0438 595 567
