Piles of criminal cases await Tommy

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

How the authorities deal with the subsequent legal processing of captured Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra will, of course, depend on the ability of the National Police to obtain evidence of some of his crimes.

Two legal practitioners, Todung Mulya Lubis and Bambang Widjojanto, see no reason for Tommy to be freed, despite the recent Supreme Court review verdict that exonerated him of corruption, as there are other criminal cases linked to him.

They said Tommy's move to defy the 18-month jail sentence was contempt of court, and therefore, the police should use this as the first charge on which to hold the outlaw.

"Tommy's move to defy imprisonment and go on the run should not be ignored without further penalty," Todung, director of the Jakarta Lawyers Club, told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday evening.

Tommy has been on the run since Nov. 3, 2000 after he escaped serving 18 months' imprisonment for corruption.

Todung emphasized that the police should also find evidence of Tommy's alleged involvement in a number of criminal cases, including the murder of Justice Syafiuddin Kartasasmita and illegal ownership of firearms.

Syafiuddin was the judge who sent him to jail.

The police also accused Tommy of having a role in a spate of bombings after they mounted raids in July on two Jakarta residences allegedly used by him. Police said they found weapons and explosives caches there.

According to Todung, Tommy could no longer be prosecuted for corruption in the land swap case involving his company Goro Batara Sakti and the State Logistics Agency because the Supreme Court had exonerated him on Oct. 1, regardless of whether it was controversial or not.

Meanwhile, Bambang Widjojanto from the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI), warned that the National Police should not allow Tommy any special privileges, otherwise the long-time fugitive might have an opportunity to escape again.

Bambang also called on the National Police to disclose the network that had protected the youngest son of former president Soeharto.

He speculated that the arrest of Tommy might possibly have been prompted by the disappointment of the police over a deal with the fugitive.

"Consequently, the police should also investigate anyone involved in any (possible) deal," Bambang said.