Arms-deal case a mix-up, attorney says
The two Indonesian suspects will be transferred to Detroit
The attorney for one of two Indonesian businessmen arrested on charges of plotting to purchase military aircraft parts and hundreds of weapons allegedly destined for Indonesia called the charges a "misunderstanding."
Hadianto Djoko Djuliarso, an Indonesian citizen, and Ibrahim Bin Amran, a Singaporean, appeared in U.S District Court on Thursday.
In an indictment filed April 4 in the Eastern District of Michigan, the two are charged with conspiracy, money laundering and violations of the federal Arms Export Control Act. The government is also seeking to forfeit the proceeds from their illegal activities.
The two are to be transferred to Detroit.
Alvin Nishimura, attorney for Djuliarso, declined comment on the charges other than to say, "It's just a big misunderstanding."
In court, Djuliarso had inquired through an interpreter why he was wanted in Michigan when he had not done anything there.
The indictment alleges that beginning in June, Djuliarso and Amran traveled from Detroit to London on several occasions to negotiate the purchase of military aircraft radar parts and nearly 1,700 firearms, including state-of-the art submachine guns, handguns and sniper rifles.
Payments totaling nearly half a million dollars were transferred from Singapore to bank accounts in Michigan for the purchase of these items, the indictment alleges.
Michael Park, attorney for Amran, said although his client pleaded not guilty, "they will ultimately cooperate."
According to the 14-page indictment, Amran allegedly sent a message in July to a U.S. company seeking quotes on aircraft armaments, including 225 Sidewinder Missles and 5,000 rounds of strafing ammunition.
Djuliarso and Amran were arrested here Sunday, two days after arriving from Indonesia and Singapore, respectively.
Also arrested were Indonesian businessman Ignatius Ferdinandus Soeharli, also known as "Igna" and who allegedly financed the deal, and David Beecroft, a British citizen from Singapore.
Soeharli and Beecroft were charged in a separate complaint filed here Monday with conspiring with others, including Djuliarso and Amran to export hundreds of firearms and defense articles without a license from the U.S. State Department's Office of Defense Trade Controls.
The court scheduled a preliminary hearing for Soeharli and Beecroft on April 24.
Matthew Winter, assistant federal defender for Soeharli, said they look forward to seeing the evidence. "From speaking to Mr. Soeharli, we look forward to fighting the charges."
Federal prosecutors would not comment on either the indictment or complaint, deferring to Michigan authorities.