Bob Hasan teaches business, Tommy learns law

Suherdjoko, The Jakarta Post, Semarang

Timber tycoon Mohamad "Bob" Hasan and former president Soeharto's son Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra have been keeping themselves busy with academic activities while serving prison terms on Nusakambangan island off of Central Java.

Hasan, who was convicted for business corruption and sentenced to six years, has been appointed as an assistant to the lecturer who teaches business and entrepreneurship at a university founded on the island last year.

Tommy, who was convicted and given 15 years for the assassination of Supreme Court justice Syafruddin Kartasasmita, is now attending the school of law at the same university.

The school rector, Sumarsono said on Friday that the university is run by the Central Java office of the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights in cooperation with Jakarta-based International Business, Law and Management (Iblam).

Sumarsono said Tommy was now in the fifth semester of his study, but the official did not explain where the high-profile inmate had studied before. Tommy graduated from vocational school in Jakarta over two decades ago but there were no reports of any academic activity thereafter, as he went into business.

The university, probably the first of its kind in the country, has classes for inmates, prison guards and other employees.

"Inmates can attend the classes for free, but prison guards and employees must pay," Sumarsono said.

Only inmates who still have at least three years left on their sentence can enter the university, so that they can graduate before they complete their jail terms, the official added.

Hasan has had his jail sentence cut by seven months and 20 days, while Tommy's has so far been cut by four months and 15 days in conjunction with the annual celebration of Independence Day, which falls on Sunday. Both received the remission for their "social activities", which has included blood donations.

The government usually grants general remission to inmates across the country in observance of Independence Day and religious holidays like Idul Fitri and Christmas.

When asked about the credibility of the university, Sumarsono said "the university has been accredited by the government."

However, Sukamto, from the office of the Directorate General of Higher Education, said he was not aware of any accreditation by the government.

"We didn't even know of the existence of the university, and anyway, if it's true Bob Hasan is not allowed to teach because he is still an inmate," said Sukamto, who is in charge of supervising university lecturers.