Imprisoned Tommy once again fails to testify

Imprisoned Tommy once again fails to testify

M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra, the youngest son of former
president Soeharto, failed to testify for the second time on
Tuesday in the Central Jakarta District Court in the trial of
Islamic boarding school leader Abdullah Sidiq Muin.

Prosecutor Yunan Harjaka told the courtroom Batu Penitentiary
in Nusakambangan, Central Java, had not responded to a letter
sent by the Central Jakarta Prosecutors' Office asking for
permission for Tommy to attend the trial.

"As an inmate, Tommy needs permission to leave from the
warden," he said. Yunan, however, said Tommy would be present at
future trials.

Sidiq, the spiritual leader of former president Abdurrahman
"Gus Dur" Wahid, is alleged to have extorted Rp 15 billion
(US$1.76 million) from Tommy.

Tommy refused to appear in court last week, saying in a letter
to the prosecutors that he would not attend before the real
culprit in the extortion case, Raden Dodi Sumadi, was tried.

He also laid down conditions that he would only appear if the
security measures against him were relaxed.

Sidiq and Dodi asked for money to help arrange meetings
between Tommy and Gus Dur in October 2000.

The meetings were to discuss Tommy's appeal for clemency after
he was sentenced to 18 months jail for graft. clemency was never
granted and Tommy went into hiding before he was finally arrested
in November 2001.

Dodi, who fled following Tommy's arrest, was arrested on Jan.
25, 2002. Police later questioned him and his dossier was
completed in August 2002. However, he has yet to stand trial for
the alleged offense.

Prosecutors repeatedly said that Dodi could not stand trial as
police had yet to submit his dossier.

"We are still expecting the police to give us the dossier,
otherwise no trial can be held," Yunan said.

The trial was adjourned to Dec. 16 to hear testimony from
Tommy. If Tommy fails to appear again, the judges will decide if
Tommy must be forced to attend or another witness must appear.