Asia/Pacific News
"Mastermind" of Orkim Harmony Hijacking Arrested
The Indonesian Navy Thursday arrested the alleged mastermind of the MT Orkim Harmony hijacking, Albert Yohanes, in West Jakarta, local media reports.
Colonel M. Zainudin said that the Navy’s Western Fleet Quick Response (WFQR) IV team apprehended Yohanes at a Grogol Petamburan apartment.
“AY [Yohanes] is suspected of being the mastermind behind the hijacking drama of the Malaysian-flagged vessel,” said Zainudin
“The success of the quick response team was achieved in no small part thanks to the tireless efforts in pursuing one of the main targets on the wanted list for an estimated one-and-a-half months.”
“He did not resist when he was arrested. It seems that he was aware that we had been tracking him for a while.”
Yohanes is said to be undergoing questioning by the Navy Military Police (Pomal) in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta, after which he will be handed over to the police for further investigation.
Zainudin did not confirm whether Yohanes would be tried in Indonesia or extradited to Malaysia.
“We are still waiting on further coordination. Rest assured that we will hand him over to the police,” explained Zainudin.
“The other eight suspects are also still under the watch of the Vietnamese authorities.”
In June, Deputy director-general Vice-Admiral Maritime Datuk Ahmad Puzi Ab Kahar of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) said that a total of 13 individuals were involved in the hijacking of MT Orkim Harmony, including eight in custody and another five that were still at large.
