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)