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	Australian Fugitive Extradited after Nearly Two Years in Jail Jakarta Globe May 3, 2010 http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/australian-fugitive-extradited-after-nearly-two-years-in-jail/372949 After more than 20 months locked up in a Jakarta prison without charges, a man wanted in Australia for fraud was extradited on April 23, even as five extradition requests for Indonesian fugitives in Australia remain outstanding. Authorities here have said that Robert James McNeice, a dual Australian and New Zealand citizen, was released into Australian custody after the president signed off on the extradition. The National Police’s deputy chief detective, Insp. Gen. Dikdik Mulyana Arief, did not say why there was such a long wait for approval to release McNeice, who was arrested for fraud in Aceh on Aug. 12, 2008, at the behest of the Australian government. Since McNeice’s arrest, Indonesia has released three other Australian fugitives into Australian custody: Charles Alfred Barnett, a former priest wanted for sexual abuse; Hadi Ahmadi, an alleged human trafficker; and Paul Francis Callahan, a surfboard maker wanted for pedophilia who surrendered in Bali the day after McNeice’s arrest. Meanwhile, Indonesian authorities are awaiting a response from Australia on extradition requests for Adrian Kiki Aryawan, Christopher John James, Jason Sujana Tanuwidjaya, Sofyan Sarabin and Peter Dundas Walbron, all wanted separately on a raft of charges ranging from bank fraud to child abuse. Dikdik did not answer questions about the perceived lopsidedness of extraditions between Australia and Indonesia. The Australian Attorney-General’s Department said in a statement that “extradition matters are considered on a case by case basis and in accordance with the requirements of Australia’s treaty with Indonesia and each country’s legislation. Australia’s extradition requests to Indonesia are independent of any requests made by Indonesia to Australia.” The department said that the Australian government was grateful for Indonesia’s assistance in the extradition of four people to Australia over the past two years, but it went on to defend its record. “Extradition is not a barter or exchange process between Australia and Indonesia. A request for an extradition will be considered by the government and an independent court,” it said. McNeice, a former watch salesman, allegedly defrauded family friend and one of Sydney’s richest bachelors, “Aussie” John Symond, of $270,000 in 2003. “My international law and human rights expert, a local lawyer and the Indonesian Human Rights Commission have assisted me in filing a complaint with the judicial task force,” McNeice told the Jakarta Globe. He insisted that his arrest and extradition were unjust. “The plan to extradite me was a violation of the Indonesian law. The Indonesian authorities never replied to my objection letter and the demand to release me from unlawful detention.”
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