Legislators reject idea of confiscating Tommy's assets

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Legislators do not support giving the government a political license to confiscate Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra's allegedly ill-gotten wealth, maintaining that standard legal proceedings must be followed, albeit sluggishly, to resolve the matter.

The chairman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) faction in the House of Representatives Roy B.B. Janis, when asked by The Jakarta Post on Monday, criticized the suggestion, maintaining his faith that the legal system would ensure justice was served.

"It isn't necessary. We should let the legal process against Tommy run its course," Roy said.

"If Tommy's assets are confiscated it should be through the courts, not from outside parties."

"We should all learn to obey the law," he added.

The position of PDI Perjuangan, as the main political backer of President Megawati Soekarnoputri and largest faction in the House with 153 seats, could be a crucial barometer for gauging how far the government will intervene in this high profile case.

Similarly, legislator Patrialis Akbar of the National Mandate Party (PAN) said such a move would be inconsistent with current procedures.

"These are two different things. If we want to retrieve Tommy's assets, there should be a case against him first," he said.

"Unfortunately none of the police's charges against Tommy have been directed at his assets," Patrialis added.

After a whole year on the run from a graft conviction, Tommy was finally captured by police last week.

He is now being held in relation to three criminal offenses, which include murder, illegal possession of firearms and masterminding a spate of bombing attacks.

But a lack of faith in the judicial system has led observers and activists to suggest other alternative "shortcuts" which would, at the very least, satisfy the public's hunger for justice.

While the accounts of Tommy's wealth remain varied, it is believed that he also amassed a huge fortune through questionable business ventures while his father was in power.

Time magazine in its mid May 1999 cover story claimed that Tommy alone had amassed collected US$ 800 millions, believed to primarily stem from his Humpuss holding company established in 1984

Activists have suggested that President Megawati Soekarnoputri should issue a decree to confiscate assets that Tommy allegedly siphoned off from the state during his father's long-term tenure.

Meanwhile, Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW) coordinator Teten Masduki told the Post on Friday that he supported the idea.

"This is the right moment for President Megawati Soekarnoputri to show the government's anti-corruption stance," Teten said.

"There are many ways to confiscate corrupters' ill-gotten wealth. Issuing a decree is only one of them," he added.

But Teten cautioned that if the government intended doing so, it must have the backing of the House.

"If there is not full political support...the implementation will not run well."