Indonesia, China swap fugitives as Cambodia scam syndicate leader among three extradited to China
Indonesia and China have completed a reciprocal transfer of fugitives under international police cooperation, with Indonesia returning three Chinese nationals and China repatriating an Indonesian woman wanted in an alleged fraud case.
- Indonesia and China completed a reciprocal transfer of four fugitives.
- China returned an Indonesian woman wanted in an alleged fraud investigation.
- Indonesia repatriated three Chinese nationals wanted in separate criminal cases.
Indonesia and China have carried out a reciprocal transfer of fugitives under an international police cooperation arrangement, with Indonesia repatriating three Chinese nationals and China returning an Indonesian fugitive wanted in an alleged fraud case.
The Indonesian National Police (Polri), through the National Central Bureau (NCB) Interpol Indonesia, said the operation was conducted in coordination with Chinese law enforcement authorities as part of ongoing cooperation to pursue criminal suspects who flee across national borders.
NCB Interpol Indonesia Secretary Brigadier General Untung Widyatmoko said China handed over Indonesian national Kariatun Tan, who is wanted over an alleged fraud and embezzlement case involving shares linked to the construction of a mineral processing facility, or smelter, within the mining concession of PT Bososi Pratama in Southeast Sulawesi.
Investigators have charged her under Articles 378 and 372 of Indonesia's Criminal Code.
Kariatun was repatriated through cooperation involving Indonesia's Ministry of Law, the Directorate General of Immigration and the Chinese police.
She arrived at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on the evening of 13 July before being handed over to investigators from the Directorate of Specific Crimes at the National Police Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim) for further legal proceedings.
In the reciprocal arrangement, Indonesia returned three Chinese fugitives identified as Zheng Rongjing, Huang Zutian and Liu Zhenxue, who had been arrested after fleeing to Indonesia.
The transfers were carried out in two stages.
Zheng accused of leading cross-border scam network
Zheng Rongjing and Liu Zhenxue were flown to Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, arriving on 10 July, while Huang Zutian arrived in China on 11 July.
All three were handed over to Chinese police together with evidence recovered during the investigation.
Untung said Zheng was one of Interpol's priority fugitives and is suspected of directing an international online scam syndicate.
Before his arrest, Zheng allegedly operated from one of the syndicate's bases in Cambodia.
Indonesian police believe he travelled to Indonesia as part of efforts to expand the group's operations.
Police had earlier announced Zheng's arrest in June.
According to investigators, he entered Indonesia via Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on 24 June before being apprehended by the Polri in coordination with immigration authorities.
Polri said the successful exchange resulted from close coordination between Indonesian and Chinese law enforcement agencies.
Untung added that Polri would continue strengthening cooperation with Interpol member countries to trace, arrest and repatriate fugitives as part of its commitment to professional and transparent law enforcement.
