3rd alleged Tommy accomplice stands trial in murder case

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Another accomplice of Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra, Dody Harjito, was yesterday indicted for the murder of Supreme Court Justice Syafiuddin Kartasasmita last July.

During the hearing in the South Jakarta District Court, Dody, 39, looked nervous and kept his eyes fixed on the floor as prosecutor Ismanto read the indictment against him.

He was charged with premeditated murder as well as protecting a criminal in order to escape from the police.

According to the indictment, Dody was involved in assisting Tommy and R. Maulawarman, alias Molla, in planning to shoot Syafiuddin.

Molla, along with defendant Noval Hadad, is currently being tried at the Central Jakarta District Court for his alleged role in the murder of Syafiuddin. Tommy, the favorite son of former president Soeharto, is yet to be named a suspect.

During yesterday's hearing Dody refused to use his right to present a defense, saying that "it (the indictment) is clear enough".

Dody, who has known Tommy since 1976, started working for him in March last year following a meeting arranged by Dedy Sutaedi Yusuf. Sutaedi is currently being tried for allegedly forging fake documents for Tommy.

"The defendant had helped Tommy Soeharto getting a rented house on Jl. Alam Segar III No 23, Pondok Indah and for contacting a hired man to carry out the murder plan," Ismanto told presiding Judge Tusana Jafri.

According to the prosecutor, the defendant and Dedy had even surveyed Syafiuddin's home on Jl. Cipayung, Kampung Rambutan, East Jakarta on June 2001.

At first, Tommy ordered Dody to drive him by motorbike to the home because he wanted to shoot Syafiuddin himself. However, Dody rejected the suggestion and recommended Tommy hire a person, Molla, to carry out the plan.

Syafiuddin was shot on July 26, 2001 while he was driving his car to work. He had recently sentenced Tommy to 18 months jail for corruption.

The hearing will resume in two weeks with three witnesses to be presented for the prosecution.