Indonesia to Try 2 Californians on Illegal Treasure-Hunting Charges

A judge Saturday ordered the trial of two Californians and four other foreign scuba divers held on an island for 95 days on suspicion of illegal treasure hunting.

“It stinks,” Paul Martino said after being told of Judge Munsiri Syarkawi’s decision to proceed with the trial Monday. “We’ve hung in here trying to fight the case on its merits, but it’s hard to believe in justice now,” added the 40-year-old Australian in a telephone interview from Tanjungpinang on the island of Bintan, where the six are being held.

Martino was among 10 foreigners on a diving holiday who were arrested at gunpoint March 22 in waters believed to hold the wrecks of at least six 18th-Century galleons. They were accused of entering Indonesia’s 200-mile exclusive economic zone in a vessel equipped for treasure-hunting.

Four of Martino’s American comrades escaped two weeks ago, leaving twin brothers Bob and Bruce Lanham of San Francisco among the six still being held.

The judge dismissed initial charges June 2, six days after the four Americans fled to Singapore, where the U.S. Embassy helped them return to California. On Saturday, the trial was ordered resumed in Tanjungpinang.