Seized cars of Tommy illegal, say police
JAKARTA (JP): Seven of ten impounded cars, believed to belong to fugitive Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra, are suspected of being illegally imported, an officer claimed on Friday.
City police spokesman Sr. Comr. Anton Bachrul Alam said the cars did not come with complete documentation, such as ownership papers and purchase receipts.
"Since they do not have the proper documents or license plates, we assume they were smuggled in," he said.
"The police will look into the matter," Anton quickly added.
Anton, however, could not name all the vehicles, but said among them were a Lamborghini jeep, a BMW sport sedan, a Cadillac and a Ford sedan.
Police raided late on Wednesday an automotive workshop, Reza Jaya Motor 81, owned by Hardjuni, and confiscated ten cars which were said to belong to Tommy.
Tommy has been on the run since November last year when he was sentenced to 18 months in jail for graft connected with a land exchange deal between his company PT Goro Batara Sakti and the State Logistics Agency (Bulog).
Three other cars, according to Anton, belonged to Hardjuni's customers but he did not give any details.
The raid was made after police received information from nearby residents who said that Tommy was often seen entering and leaving the automotive workshop located on Jl. Pahlawan, Kebon Jeruk, West Jakarta.
Jakarta Police have planned to summon his brother-in-law to verify the ownership of the vehicles, following the seizure.
"In the near future, we will summon Tito as a witness to verify who is the owner of the cars," Anton said, referring to Pratikto Prayitno Singgih, the husband of Tommy's younger sister, Siti Hutami "Mamiek" Endang Adiningsih.
Anton said Tito was the one who took the cars to Hardjuni's workshop and arranged payment of Rp 6 million (US$706) per month. Tito entrusted the cars to Hardjuni in 1997 shortly after former president Soeharto resigned.
Other witnesses, all Hardjuni's six employees, were released after they underwent questioning on Thursday.
During the raid detectives also apprehended Adj. First Insp. Suwardi for allegedly deserting the South Jakarta Police and working as a security guard at the workshop.
"Suwardi is now being investigated by our internal affairs department. If he is found guilty, he will be sanctioned," Anton said.
Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Sofjan Jacoeb said that the police would reevaluate its manhunt for Tommy on Sept. 12, but did not say whether the operation would be continued.
The chief of detectives of Jakarta Police, Sr. Comr. Adang Rochana confessed on Wednesday of being very tired of searching for fugitive Tommy, as it has used all its resources during the unsuccessful manhunt, which had lasted for more than 10 months. (emf)