Another Tommy associate on trial

JAKARTA: The Central Jakarta District Court will soon try a close friend of fugitive Hutomo Mandala Putra or Tommy Soeharto for allegedly possessing illegal firearms. The arrest was made at the Apartment Cemara in Central Jakarta where the weapons were found.

Hetty Siti Hartika, the apartment manager, is accused of violating Article 1 paragraph 1 of Emergency Law No. 12/951 on illegal firearms and ammunition, which carries a maximum sentence of death.

Her case will be handled by judge Musa Simatupang, who has been assigned to preside over the trial, along with judges Ali A. Haky and Chasiany Tanjung.

The spokesman of the court, Judge Andi Samsan Nganro, however, said that the date had not yet been set.

The police arrested Hetty on Aug. 4 after finding firearms, jewelry and several gold bars worth US$ 600,000 during a raid while searching for Tommy. --JP