Skepticism surronds Tommy's case

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Life behind bars must be terrible, especially in the notorious Cipinang penitentiary in East Jakarta. Dirty over-crowded cells, poorly cooked food, a limited amount of water for bathing and strict prison guards who would not hesitate to take action against anyone that dares to disobey the rules.

But this bleak picture does not apply to everyone.

At least, not to Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra, who was sentenced on Friday by the Central Jakarta District Court to 15 years in jail for last year's murder of Supreme Court Justice M. Syafiuddin Kartasasmita, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition and fleeing from justice.

The youngest son of former president Soeharto has been given special treatment ever since he was arrested in November last year by police officers, who call him mas (older brother) Tommy. Mas is the respectable way to address a Javanese man.

In Cipinang penitentiary, the 40-year-old billionaire playboy occupies a spacious and furnished cell in a block that used to be occupied by political prisoners, who were jailed during his father's 32-year rule.

To ensure his comfort, the cell, which has a living room, bedroom and bathroom, was renovated to welcome Tommy, who first stepped foot in the prison in late February. He had been detained for several months in an air-conditioned cell at Jakarta Police Headquarters.

Tommy's cell at Cipinang is equipped with a television and a foam mattress. There are reports that an air conditioner has also been installed there.

His family, friends, lawyers and aides can see him after visiting hours. A guard said that they could even visit Tommy in his cell.

No wonder the general public is skeptical over whether Tommy will serve time in jail like the other convicts, despite the 15- year jail sentence.

They said that Tommy might not serve his jail term because he has lots of money.

"It's good enough that the court had the guts to sentence a member of the Soeharto family to jail for years. We all know how hard it was to bring him to court. But for now on, we must make sure that Tommy is really serving his sentence in jail," Budi, who was waiting for a bus at Blok M terminal in South Jakarta, said.

Budi said that Tommy had ways of deceiving the law.

"Tommy has money, he could buy the penitentiary if he wanted to. Corrupt penitentiary officials are a public secret. Besides, he could hire the most expensive lawyers in the country to defend him," said Budi, a law school graduate.

Earlier this year, the penitentiary allowed Tommy to visit his ailing father for humanitarian reasons.

Soeharto, now 81, was charged with corruption, but in 2000 the South Jakarta District Court declared that he was too ill to stand trial.

Many believe that the Soeharto family was mired in corruption, collusion and nepotism, but so far, only Tommy has been brought before the courts.

In 1999, Tommy, along with businessman Ricardo Gelael, was tried for corruption. The South Jakarta District Court freed him, but in the following year the Supreme Court sentenced them each to 18 months in jail.

Tommy escaped in November 2000 after then president Abdurrahman Wahid rejected granting him a pardon.

On July 26, 2001, Supreme Court Justice M. Syafiuddin Kartasasmita, one of the three judges who handed Tommy the guilty verdict, was shot dead by R. Maulawarman, alias Molla, and Noval Hadad on Tommy's orders.

In February, Molla and Hadad each received a life sentence.

Many said that Tommy deserved a longer sentence.

"I welcome the guilty verdict, but 15 years is not enough for him," said Hutagalung, a bus conductor.

The 32-year-old man said Tommy should have been given a life sentence.

"If he was an ordinary man, I am sure the court would have sentenced him to death," said Masrum, a fruit vendor.

Even though Tommy was sentenced to 15 years in jail, that does not mean he has to serve the entire length of time, because a convict may get an early release if he behaves well.

Ricardo Gelael, for example, was released from prison after serving 11 months of his 18-month sentence.

Tommy could also spend less time in jail if the court of appeals believes he deserves a lighter sentence.

Worse, if Tommy's lawyers manage to convince the judges that he is innocent or that there was a legal defect during the verdict's presentation because Tommy, who claimed to have diarrhea, was not present for it, he might not even have to spend any time in jail.