Synchronized searches for Tommy
Synchronized searches for Tommy
JAKARTA (JP): The prolonged search for fugitive Hutomo "Tommy"
Mandala Putra has taken a new turn with National Police beginning
a synchronized search operation, combing locations across the
country suspected as refuges of former president Soeharto's son.
"The operation started on Wednesday and continues today. We
found some clues, but we cannot reveal them now," National Police
spokesman Brig. Gen. Saleh Saaf told the press on Thursday.
Saleh added that the synchronized hunt for Tommy was also
aimed at demonstrating the police are serious in their efforts to
capture the businessman, who was sentenced to 18 months in jail
for corruption in September last year.
Saleh admitted that the police were embarrassed for failing to
arrest Tommy, who has been on the run since his request for a
presidential pardon was denied in early November.
City police have searched at least 58 locations in an attempt
to find Tommy, including 18 sites around Jl. Cendana in the plush
area of Menteng, Central Jakarta, where Soeharto and his family
live.
The police have also searched the houses of former president
Soeharto and his children, including Siti Hardijanti "Tutut"
Rukmana, Sigit Harjojudanto, Siti Hutami "Mamiek" Endang
Adiningsih and Tommy.
During their investigations Police used a geo-radar device to
scan the compounds of the infamous family's homes, which are
rumored to have bunkers being used as a hiding place by Tommy. To
date the searches have proved fruitless.
Saleh said that the police are analyzing whether or not
bunkers exist in the Cendana area.
In Surakarta, Central Java, police also checked several
houses, including a house of former Chief of the Indonesian
Military (TNI) Gen. (ret.) Wiranto and a house of chief of the
Pemuda Pancasila youth organization Yapto Soerjosoemarno.
A house belonging to Tommy's wife Ardhia Premasti Regita
"Tata" Cahyani in the same city was also searched.
East Java Police reportedly conducted similar searching on
Wednesday but also failed to expose the fugitive.
President Abdurrahman Wahid has previously said that police
arrested Tommy in an Islamic boarding school in the province but
the fugitive managed to escape.
Commenting on the intensified search, one of the Soeharto
family's lawyers, Denny Kailimang, said the family was upset over
the matter.
"They are upset, but they can do nothing, and instead are
allowing police to conduct the searches," Denny told reporters at
National Police headquarters.
"One of the family members asked what the police will do next.
It's an expression of dejection, due to the frustrating search."
He claims that the police's repeated searches, some of them at
the same locations, lacked legal basis, but were continued just
to satisfy the public. (jun)