Doubs loom as Tomy's trial begins

Doubs loom as Tomy's trial begins

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

One of the biggest trials in Indonesia's history is
commencing. Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra, the youngest son of
former president Soeharto, is scheduled to appear at the Central
Jakarta District Court today (Wednesday) on a murder charge.

Tommy is accused of masterminding the murder of Supreme Court
justice Syafiuddin M. Kartasasmita, who sentenced him to 18
months jail for corruption.

He will also be charged with illegal possession of ammunition
and firearms and fleeing from justice.

If found guilty of murder or illegal possession of ammunition
and firearms, Tommy could be sentenced to death.

Even though he is accused of committing serious crimes, the
prosecutors do not seem to be very serious in preparing the
indictment, which is only 29 pages and lacks details.

In the charges of illegal possession of firearms and
ammunition, for example, the indictment did not mention clearly
how Tommy got the weapons and the reasons why he bought them.

Worse, in the murder charges, the prosecutors did not
stipulate clearly the reasons why Tommy wanted to murder
Syafiuddin.

The police had earlier accused Tommy of masterminding the
series of bombings in Jakarta and other towns in the country. But
they later dropped the charges due to a lack of evidence.

Tommy's accomplice, Elize Maria Tuwahatu, who was sentenced to
10 years jail for illegal possession of bombs, told the East
Jakarta District Court last year that the bombs belonged to
Tommy. But she later withdrew the statement, saying they were
given to her by a man who looked like Tommy.

Tommy's trial will be handled by Amiruddin Zakaria, with the
members being I Ketut Gede and Andi Samsan Nganro.

Amiruddin is the judge who sentenced Endin Wahyudin to three
months in jail for defaming two Supreme Court justices. Endin was
a witness who reported a bribery scandal involving the Supreme
Court.

Andi, who is also the spokesman of the court, told The Jakarta
Post that the police would safeguard the hearing. Several
policemen would check visitors entering the court compound.

"This is not meant to screen visitors but we only want order
(during Tommy's hearing)", Andi said.

Many believe that Tommy's trial will become a test case for
legal reform in the country.

In 2000, the South Jakarta District Court suspended the
corruption trial of Soeharto on the grounds that the defendant
was too ill to be tried. One day before the judge announced the
decision, a bomb exploded in an empty minibus parked across the
court compound. There were no injuries. The explosion remained a
mystery.

Chronology of Tommy's Case

Date, Scene

April 5, 1999: Tommy and businessman Ricardo Gelael prosecuted
for corruption
Oct. 14, 1999: S. Jakarta District Court acquitted Tommy and
Ricardo of graft charges
Nov. 10, 1999: Attorney General's Office appealed to Supreme Court
Sept. 26, 2000: Supreme Court sentenced Tommy and Ricardo to 18
months jail each
Nov. 2, 2000: President Abdurrahman Wahid refused to give Tommy a
presidential pardon
Nov. 3, 2000: Tommy escaped
July 26, 2001: Supreme Court justice M. Syafiuddin Kartasasmita
shot to death
Oct.1, 2001: Supreme Court overturned its earlier verdict and
acquitted Tommy of graft
Nov.28, 2001: Tommy arrested and detained at the Jakarta Police
headquarters
Feb.20, 2002: Tommy started his first day at the Cipinang
Penitentiary in East Jakarta after police handed over his dossiers
to the Jakarta prosecutors' office
Feb.20, 2002: Tommy's accomplice Hetty Siti Hartika sentenced
to four years jail for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition
March 7, 2002: Jakarta Prosecutor's Office submitted Tommy's
case files to Central Jakarta District Court
March 20, 2002: Central Jakarta District Court scheduled to begin
Tommy's trial

Source: The Jakarta Post