3rd alleged Tommy accomplice stands trial in murder case
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.