Police extend detention of Tommy's lawyer

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.