After four days, Tommy gets his uniform

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

After being bombarded with criticism by the media, policemen on Saturday were seen escorting their top detainee Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra before journalists, but this time wearing a dark blue outfit -- a detainee's uniform.

The police apparently did not want to risk further censure for not providing a uniform for Tommy.

Apart from the uniform, Tommy will -- beginning on Saturday -- spend the night in his own cell, no. A-11.

In a media conference on Saturday, newly installed Jakarta Police chief of detectives Sr. Comr. Bambang Hendarso Danuri said the police had never intended to give Tommy special treatment.

"It was his sisters who asked us to treat him well, as he is a spoiled son. We can understand their request, but rules are rules," said Bambang, who was installed on Friday.

Previously, Tommy had slept in the luxury of an air- conditioned room with private bathroom -- the office of the detention unit chief.

Tommy, the youngest son of former president Soeharto, has never been seen before wearing a detainee's uniform, the type of which was also once worn by his nephew Ari Haryo Wibowo and the latter's wife Gusti Maya Firanti Noor.

Tommy wore a detainee's shirt, bearing the number 093, and light brown shorts when he was brought into the questioning room on Saturday.

This occurred only a day after Bambang had taken office as Jakarta Police chief of detectives, replacing Adang Rochjana.

To reporters earlier, Adang had maintained that the police did not have a uniform available for Tommy and also that the cells were so full that he had had to sleep outside them.

"There is no difference in the policies between me and my predecessor. All policy comes from the city police chief and we only carry it out," Bambang said.

"But as far as I'm concerned, the detainee's uniform is essential," he said.