No more TV, cell phone or business for Tommy

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra was set to lose his privileges in jail midnight Friday after he failed to lodge an appeal against his 15-year jail sentence for conspiracy to commit murder.

Minister of Justice and Human Rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra said Tommy's status would change from being a detainee to a convicted criminal and he would lose all the privileges he had enjoyed so far.

Tommy, the favorite son of former strongman Soeharto, was jailed last week on charges of masterminding the drive-by murder of Supreme Court Justice M. Syafiuddin Kartasasmita, fleeing justice and possessing weapons illegally.

Unlike other prisoners, the playboy businessman virtually enjoyed all the comforts of home. He occupied a bigger, cleaner room that was separated from other prisoners and was allowed to have a bigger television set and a cellular phone.

His wife, family members, friends and business associates visited him at their leisure. In fact, Tommy was still running his business from prison, with his secretary visiting him regularly to get his signature on business documents.

On Thursday, he created Indonesian history by calling a press conference, the first time a convict has organized a briefing in prison.

"By midnight, the verdict comes into force if Tommy does not appeal... as a convict he will no longer enjoy those facilities," Yusril said.

During a press conference at the Cipinang Penitentiary, Tommy told journalists that he would not appeal the verdict, but fell short of admitting the charges.

He refused to elaborate on his reasons for not appealing, saying only that he would pursue other legal means to get him off the hook.

The change of status would also mean that Tommy has to be transferred from a detention cell to a prison room, which he has to share with other convicts. Usually, a two meter by four meter room is shared by 12 convicts.

Tommy was sentenced last week to 15-years jail for his role in the murder of Judge Syafiuddin in July 2001. Syafiuddin had sentenced Tommy to 18-months jail for his role in a landscam involving the State Logistics Agency (Bulog).

On Thursday, Tommy said he would not appeal as the situation was no longer in favor of him as people already believed him guilty as charged.

It is still unclear whether he had learned to accept the fact that as a prisoner he has to share rooms and bathrooms with the rest of the Cipinang Penitentiary inmates.

Fears over his safety in prison had prompted him to avoid serving his 18-month jail term by running away after then president Abdurrahman Wahid rejected his request for clemency.

"There is different treatment for a detainee and a convict. A detainee could still have all the privileges. That is why Tommy was allowed to have a private cellular phone," Yusril said.

The minister however said such privileges had to be revoked once Tommy decided to accept the 15-year sentence.

"By midnight (Friday), those facilities should no longer be there for him," he stressed.