Police to probe Tommy conspiracy

JAKARTA: National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar has ordered a team from the Jakarta Police to probe alleged collusion between former president Soeharto's youngest son Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra and security personnel when the former was on the run.

"The team has been given a month to investigate the case," Da'i said after observing a rehearsal for the commemoration of the National Police's anniversary at the Senayan parking lot here on Saturday.

Tommy, who went into hiding in November 2000 shortly after he was convicted of graft and sentenced to 18 months in jail, told the court last Wednesday that he was free to go wherever he wanted, even though he was on the run, thanks to "cooperation" with security personnel.

He said he frequently stayed in his luxurious home on Jl. Cendana in Central Jakarta when he was still a fugitive, although security personnel had cordoned off the area.

"I frequently went home to Cendana because it was safe there as I was coordinating with security officers," Tommy said without mentioning any names. --Antara