Legislators reject idea of confiscating Tommy's assets
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."
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."