Prosecutors to seize Tommy's assets in W. Java
Prosecutors to seize Tommy's assets in W. Java
JAKARTA (JP): South Jakarta prosecutors found out on Friday
that all private assets belonging to fugitive Hutomo "Tommy"
Mandala Putra in Jakarta had been transferred to other parties.
Head of the prosecutor's office, Antasari Azhar, said the
prosecutors would now focus on Tommy's other properties in West
Java, including two plots in Serang, some 90 kilometers west of
here, and in Bogor, some 60 kilometers south of here.
"We have stopped our efforts to seize Tommy's remaining 17
assets in Jakarta. Four of them are concessions, some have been
handed over to several of his own foundations or to banks as a
collateral of his debts," Antasari told journalists at his
office.
"Now we will gather accurate data on the properties. If those
assets are Tommy's concessions or belonging to companies, we
cannot take them."
Tommy, the youngest son of former president Soeharto, also
owns a racing circuit in Sentul, Bogor.
He went missing when he was about to serve his 18-month prison
sentence in Cipinang penitentiary, East Jakarta for corruption
and was declared a fugitive on Nov. 3.
The prosecutors have started seizure of his properties as
collateral for his obligation to pay some Rp 30.6 billion as
ordered by the Supreme Court.
The sum was part of state losses he caused in the 1995 land
swap deal between his wholesaler firm PT Goro Batara Sakti and
the State Logistics Agency (Bulog).
The prosecutors sealed Tommy's homes on Jl. Cendana No. 12 and
Jl. Yusuf Adiwinata No. 4 in the Menteng area, Central Jakarta
last Tuesday, but failed to seize three plots of land on Jl. Raya
Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta on Thursday.
"The 2.8 hectares of land had been used as collateral to Bank
Bumi Daya in 1996," he said.
One of Tommy's megastores Goro was built on the land. The
building was burned down and looted during the mass riot in May
1998 prior to his father's resignation.
Antasari further said that according to data he received from
the National Land Agency (BPN), one of Tommy's plots of land on
Jl. H. Abdul Majid in Cinere, South Jakarta, had been given to
singer Maya Rumantir, four days after he bought it in 1992.
Questioning
Separately on Friday, National Police spokesman Sr. Supt.
Timbul Sianturi said that the police had summoned more people for
questioning over Tommy's disappearance scheduled for Monday.
"These people have been summoned since they are presumed to
know Tommy's whereabouts," Timbul told reporters at the Police
headquarters.
The persons were Tommy's sister Siti Hutami Endang Adiningsih,
also known as Mamiek, President Director of PT Timor Putra
Nusantara Sujasmin Lubis, two secretaries of PT Humpuss, namely,
Aan and Tiya.
The two companies are owned by Tommy.
The questioning of Tommy's wife, Ardhia Pramesti Rigita
Cahyani, better known as Tata, has been rescheduled for Monday
after she failed to meet the police summons on Thursday, Timbul
said.
Timbul said that if proven to know Tommy's whereabouts, the
people could be charged under Article 221 of the Criminal Code
with protecting and hiding a criminal and could face a jail
sentence of up to nine years.
President Abdurrahman Wahid, fresh from his overseas trip,
told an unscheduled media conference at the Merdeka Palace on
Friday he would evaluate the two weeks search for Tommy.
Abdurrahman said the evaluation would be held with his
spokesman Wimar Witoelar and "other concerned parties" late on
Friday. He did not give further details.
"We will conduct an honest and objective evaluation on whether
(the search) has been carried out properly or not," he said.
"The most important thing is that the authorities must work
properly," the President said, adding that he would "take action"
if Tommy was not captured. (jaw/bby/byg)