US bounty money up for grabs? RI police may not get it

The US Embassy in Jakarta said Wednesday it was looking into the likelihood of paying a US$10 million reward for the death of wanted terror suspect Dulmatin, but declined to say who might be entitled to it.

Under the US State Department’s “Reward for Justice” program, information leading to the location of key suspects behind the 2002 Bali bombings entitle the informant to a reward of up to $10 million.

“We do not comment on open or ongoing cases,” said Corina Sanders, the embassy’s assistant press attaché, in an email to The Jakarta Post.

The police’s Detachment 88 counterterrorism squad launched a raid Tuesday in Tangerang, killing three terror suspects, including Dulmatin believed to be involved in the Bali bombings.

National Police chief Gen. Bambang Hendarso Danuri played down prospects of a reward for his team’s slaying of Dulmatin, in which a related mission in another location claimed the lives of three officers.
“We didn’t carry out the mission in the hope of getting the reward.”

In 2003, Thai authorities responsible for arresting Indonesian terror suspect Hambali reportedly sought a $10 million reward promised for the fugitive’s capture, but it remains unclear whether the money was handed over. The US government is not obliged to name informants.

Thai media reported that rival claims to Hambali’s arrest came from Thai and CIA officials.

Before a reward can be handed over, the US Embassy must nominate the eligible candidate to the US Department of Defense or State Department for approval.

However, it says government officials who provide helpful information as part of their duty are generally ineligible to receive the cash.

The US says it has handed out $80 million in rewards since 1984.