JAKARTA. After disappearing for two months, Wisnu Tjandra, a 51-year-old top Artha Graha group executive, was found in Yogyakarta, proving he was still alive and burying speculation that he might have been the victim of abduction in connection with unhealthy business competition. Jakarta Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Rikwanto said the police had finally located Wisnu, who had been missing since May 11, 2014, at a hotel in the tourism center. "We will make sure that he can return to his family for Idul Fitri,” Rikwanto said. Rikwanto added that Wisnu’s disappearance was voluntarily and “had nothing to do with any kidnapping”. Rikwanto said on Saturday that the businessman had been found after the police traced his cell phone, which had been sold in Central Java. He added that the police would question Wisnu about his mysterious disappearance at a later date. Adj. Sr. Comr. Herry Heryawan, the head of the Jakarta Police’s violent crimes unit, said that results from the investigation showed that Wisnu had asked a taxi driver in Yogyakarta to sell his phone. According to Herry, police found Wisnu’s cell phone on a student who claimed he had bought it from a store in Yogyakarta. He added that the store owner said he had bought the phone from a taxi driver, who then guided the police officers to the place where Wisnu took the taxi. The tip eventually led the police to Wisnu’s location. Wisnu’s family lost contact with him when he disappeared on May 11. They filed an official report with the city police on May 14. The Jakarta Police had formed a special team of detectives for violent crimes (Jatanras) to look for Wisnu in several cities in West and Central Java, including at his mother’s grave in Karawang, West Java. After declaring him a missing person, the police distributed flyers in Jakarta, West Java and Central Java to help in the search. The police also visited the main office of PT Jakarta International Hotels and Development (JIHD), where Wisnu sits as a director for clues regarding the reasons behind his sudden disappearance. After receiving a phone call on Saturday from Wisnu informing them that he was still alive and in a healthy state, Anastasya and her brother withdrew the police report. “He called and left a message, but did not mention his whereabouts,” said Anastasya at Jakarta Police headquarters on Saturday. She added that she did not yet know why Wisnu disappeared, but said that it had nothing to do with the company and that he may have just needed time away from his job. Separately, Agung Prabowo, another executive at the Artha Graha group, revealed that his company recently received a letter from Wisnu that apologized for his leaving without notice or explanation. “On behalf of the company, I confirm that Wisnu Tjandra sent us a letter on July 3,” Agung said on Saturday. Agung added that in the letter, Wisnu said that he was sorry for letting down the company and that he was no longer suitable to sit as an official. According to Agung, the letter was written by Wisnu himself, which was confirmed by Anastasya. Wisnu joined Artha Graha in 1989 after graduating from the University of Indonesia’s faculty of economics. While at the group, Wisnu, who is the ex-husband of the soap opera actress, Peggy Melati Sukma, served in various prestigious positions, including deputy president director of Bank Artha Graha, director of PT Jakarta International Hotels & Development and commissioner of PT Danayasa Arthatama. (idb)
Missing Artha Graha boss alive in Yogyakarta
JAKARTA. After disappearing for two months, Wisnu Tjandra, a 51-year-old top Artha Graha group executive, was found in Yogyakarta, proving he was still alive and burying speculation that he might have been the victim of abduction in connection with unhealthy business competition. Jakarta Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Rikwanto said the police had finally located Wisnu, who had been missing since May 11, 2014, at a hotel in the tourism center. "We will make sure that he can return to his family for Idul Fitri,” Rikwanto said. Rikwanto added that Wisnu’s disappearance was voluntarily and “had nothing to do with any kidnapping”. Rikwanto said on Saturday that the businessman had been found after the police traced his cell phone, which had been sold in Central Java. He added that the police would question Wisnu about his mysterious disappearance at a later date. Adj. Sr. Comr. Herry Heryawan, the head of the Jakarta Police’s violent crimes unit, said that results from the investigation showed that Wisnu had asked a taxi driver in Yogyakarta to sell his phone. According to Herry, police found Wisnu’s cell phone on a student who claimed he had bought it from a store in Yogyakarta. He added that the store owner said he had bought the phone from a taxi driver, who then guided the police officers to the place where Wisnu took the taxi. The tip eventually led the police to Wisnu’s location. Wisnu’s family lost contact with him when he disappeared on May 11. They filed an official report with the city police on May 14. The Jakarta Police had formed a special team of detectives for violent crimes (Jatanras) to look for Wisnu in several cities in West and Central Java, including at his mother’s grave in Karawang, West Java. After declaring him a missing person, the police distributed flyers in Jakarta, West Java and Central Java to help in the search. The police also visited the main office of PT Jakarta International Hotels and Development (JIHD), where Wisnu sits as a director for clues regarding the reasons behind his sudden disappearance. After receiving a phone call on Saturday from Wisnu informing them that he was still alive and in a healthy state, Anastasya and her brother withdrew the police report. “He called and left a message, but did not mention his whereabouts,” said Anastasya at Jakarta Police headquarters on Saturday. She added that she did not yet know why Wisnu disappeared, but said that it had nothing to do with the company and that he may have just needed time away from his job. Separately, Agung Prabowo, another executive at the Artha Graha group, revealed that his company recently received a letter from Wisnu that apologized for his leaving without notice or explanation. “On behalf of the company, I confirm that Wisnu Tjandra sent us a letter on July 3,” Agung said on Saturday. Agung added that in the letter, Wisnu said that he was sorry for letting down the company and that he was no longer suitable to sit as an official. According to Agung, the letter was written by Wisnu himself, which was confirmed by Anastasya. Wisnu joined Artha Graha in 1989 after graduating from the University of Indonesia’s faculty of economics. While at the group, Wisnu, who is the ex-husband of the soap opera actress, Peggy Melati Sukma, served in various prestigious positions, including deputy president director of Bank Artha Graha, director of PT Jakarta International Hotels & Development and commissioner of PT Danayasa Arthatama. (idb)
