Police extend detention of Tommy's lawyer

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Hutomo "Tommy" Putra Mandala's lawyer Elza Syarief, who has been accused of bribing witnesses to lie in Tommy's trial, will be spending more time behind bars since the city police have extended her detention by 20 days.

The chief of detectives at the city police corruption division, Adj. Snr. Comr. Anton Wahono, said on Thursday that the police could not release Elza because the investigation into her case had not been completed.

Elza's lawyer Ferry Amahorseya earlier asked the police to delay his client's detention, and guaranteed that she would not flee the city or do anything to obstruct the investigation.

The request was turned down.

Elza has claimed that her detention is unlawful, and she filed suit against the police at the South Jakarta District Court on Wednesday.

Elza has been held at the city police headquarters' detention cells since May 6 for allegedly bribing Rahmat Hidayat and Tatang Somantri, who used to work at former president Soeharto family's Cemara Apartments in Central Jakarta.

Rahmat and Tatang admitted to receiving Rp 2 million each from Elza to lie in the trial of Tommy, the youngest son of Soeharto. During the court hearing, the two withdrew their statements in the dossiers made before the police.

Rahmat and Tatang left their cell at the police headquarters last week after the police granted their request to delay their detention.

If found guilty, the three suspects could be sentenced up to seven years in jail each.