Sjahril says Susno asks him to stay in Singapore


Susno Duadji (JP/P.J. Leo)

"Yes, the man contacted me, asking me to stay," Sjahril, who is also a former diplomat, told reporters before undergoing a questioning session at the National Police headquarters in Jakarta.

When asked if the man was a legislator, Sjahril said he did not know the man.

Sjahril also refused to mention where the meeting took place.

Sjahril's lawyer, Hotma Sitompul, added the man came to Sjahril only a day before he returned to Indonesia on April 13, 2010.

Few hours after Sjahril's meeting with the man, Hotma said, Susno was arrested at the Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta International Airport by a number of National Police's internal affairs officers.

Susno was about to leave for Singapore but he has denied the trip was to meet with Sjahril.

Susno said he wanted to have a medical check-up in Singapore.

After Sjahril arrived in Indonesia, he was brought to the National Police headquarters where he underwent questioning.

Sjahril testified before detectives, according to a recently leaked police document, he once handed over Rp 500 million (US$54,000) in cash to Susno at his house.

The money was allegedly a bribe in connection with a case involving an arowana fish farm in Riau, when Susno was still National Police chief detective.