Tommy seeks review of murder conviction<\/p>\n
Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Convicted Hutomo \"Tommy\" Mandala Putra, -- who earlier accepted
\nhis 15-year jail term sentence for the 2001 murder of Justice
\nSyafiuddin Kartasasmita and three other cases -- has decided to
\nchallenge the verdict.<\/p>\n
Tommy announced on Aug. 1, 2002 that he would not appeal the
\ncourt sentence but stressed that he would consider other legal
\noptions, \"taking into account the political situation in the
\ncountry.\"<\/p>\n
And Tommy seems to have seen a favorable political situation
\nas on Wednesday Judge Andi Samsan Nganro, the spokesman of the
\nCentral Jakarta District Court, revealed that Tommy's lawyers
\nsubmitted a request for judicial review to the court last week.<\/p>\n
\"We have set up a panel of judges to hear the case before
\npassing it on to the Supreme Court. The panel decided to mandate
\nthe Cilacap District Court to hear the case in light of new
\ntestimony from witnesses and to check new evidence,\" he told
\nreporters on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Judge Andi did not reveal the new evidence to be presented by
\nTommy. John K. Aziz, Tommy's lawyer, could not be reached for
\ncomment.<\/p>\n
The panel of judges in Jakarta, which consists of Judge Ridwan
\nMansyur, Sunaryo and Panusunan Harahap, will decide whether the
\ncase has the merit to be processed or not, Judge Andi added.<\/p>\n
Tommy is currently being held at the Batu Penitentiary on
\nNusakambangan island, Central Java. The island is under the
\njurisdiction of Cilacap District Court.<\/p>\n
According to legal procedure, a convict making a request for a
\njudicial review to the Supreme Court must submit new evidence to
\nthe district court that heard the case. The district court is
\nobliged to check new evidence, including testimony by witnesses
\npresented by the convict.<\/p>\n
\"A Supreme Court regulation permits a district court to ask
\nanother court to hear such a case,\" Judge Andi said.<\/p>\n
Judge Andi said the court's decision was also due to security
\nreasons resulting from Tommy's past record as a fugitive. During
\nhis trial last year, the police heavily guarded the youngest son
\nof former president Soeharto.<\/p>\n
Judge Andi denied that the court's decision was an attempt to
\navoid press coverage of the case.<\/p>\n
Legal observers warned of flaws in Tommy's verdict that could
\nlead to the Supreme Court overturning it.<\/p>\n
One of the loopholes was the fact that the police failed to
\nsecure a court warrant before seizing firearms and ammunition
\nbelieved to belong to Tommy from different locations.<\/p>\n
Evidence is invalid if it is seized without a warrant.<\/p>\n
Legal experts said that Tommy's absence during the delivery of
\nthe verdict was another mistake that might influence the appeal's
\nruling, or serve as a tactic to gain time for \"negotiations\" that
\ncould lead to the verdict's annulment.<\/p>\n
The Central Jakarta District Court delivered the verdict in
\nthe absence of the defendant, who claimed to have diarrhea, which
\nhis doctors said was the result of stress.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tommy-seeks-review-of-murder-conviction-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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