Authorities 'serious about arresting Tommy'

Authorities 'serious about arresting Tommy'

JAKARTA (JP): Authorities on Thursday were quick to assert
their seriousness in the hunt for Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra
amid growing public skepticism as a nationwide search was
launched for the nation's most wanted fugitive whom they believe
is still in the country.

Head of the South Jakarta Prosecutor's Office Antasari Azhar
said police had "intensified the search for Tommy all over the
country".

"I keep monitoring police efforts up to the minute. Please,
don't doubt our efforts," he told journalists at his office.

However, despite these reported efforts authorities still
seemed unable to track down one of the most well recognized men
in the country.

Antasari said prosecutors and police had also drawn up a plan
to search for the youngest son of former president Soeharto at
about 21 points in Jakarta and other cities.

"We're sure he is still in the country because he's prohibited
from leaving Indonesia," he remarked.

Antasari even claimed that there would be a reward for anyone
who can provide information on the whereabouts of Tommy, who has
been convicted in a Rp 76.7 billion corruption case.

Antasari, when pressed by journalists on Thursday, refused to
enter a debate on whether Tommy's defense team or family had
violated the law by not revealing Tommy's whereabouts.

"I don't want to raise another polemic which might distract me
from my focus of finding Tommy. I'll take care of that later," he
said.

National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Saleh Saaf said that the
force had sent a letter to the International Police (Interpol)
Headquarters in Paris requesting assistance if the fugitive flees
abroad.

According to Saleh, police have searched 11 locations since
Tommy was declared a fugitive on Nov. 7, including several
possible hideouts outside of Jakarta.

Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and Security
Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono revealed that President
Abdurrahman Wahid had called a meeting Wednesday night to discuss
the failure in apprehending Tommy.

Susilo said that during the meeting, which was attended by
Attorney General Marzuki Darusman and the head of the State
Intelligence Coordinating Agency Arie J. Kumaat, "the President
said Tommy must be found."

"The President said if Tommy received threats or had been
terrorized he should have discussed it with security
authorities," he said.

Tommy's lawyers have said their client had refused to turn
himself in to serve his 18-month jail sentence due to anonymous
phone callers threatening to kill him once he is behind bars.

In Surabaya, East Java, National Police chief Gen. Bimantoro
said on Thursday that he had ordered all provincial police
headquarters to launch a manhunt.

"I've ordered all provincial police headquarters, not only the
Jakarta Police, to put Tommy on the wanted list," Bimantoro said.

In Surakarta, Central Java, police were conducting a sweep of
all cars passing through the area carrying Jakarta license
plates.

Karanganyar Precinct Police chief Supt. Sudarsono said on
Thursday that the region is often visited by the Soeharto family
who have strong familial ties to Surakarta.

Sudarsono said Tommy was not at the family's residence in
Kalitan, at the house of his wife's family in Banjarsari or
around his mother's grave in Astana Giribangun.

"He has not been seen in the region since being
convicted...But we'll keep up the search until he has been
found," he told journalists. (01/har/bby/nur/byg)