Tommy a special murderer

Tommy a special murderer

The verdict in the case of Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra has
disappointed most people here and lacked respect for the law.

Three weeks ago the District Court handed down only a 15-year
sentence to him for several serious offenses, most notably of
which was the mastermind of the murder of Supreme Court Justice
M. Syafiuddin Kartasasmita. But his two accomplices -- who
carried out the murder -- are now serving life sentences.

And not only that, but he is now getting preferential
treatment at Cipinang Penitentiary.

Perhaps the most upsetting event was when judge Amuriddin read
the verdict, and essentially said any more harsh of a sentence
would be very hard for a famous and influential person like Tommy
to handle. That appalling statement was an insult to the
integrity of our legal system.

In other words, according to the judge, only impoverished low-
class criminals deserve harsh punishment, while influential
people, who commit similarly heinous crimes, should enjoy lighter
sentences.

Worse still, the penitentiary warden Ngusman has reportedly
proposed a 12-month remission for Tommy.

Remission is given annually to well-behaved prisoners on
National Independence Day, Aug. 17.

Ngusman is a "vigorous civil servant", who proposed remission
for Tommy one week after Tommy entered the penitentiary. If, in
the future, the warden seeks another 12-month remission for
Tommy, he will have to stay in jail for only seven years, not to
mention his "good behavior" during his term which could cut it
even further.

Do not think for one minute that Tommy is a real prisoner now,
like other inmates are, at the penitentiary.

He enjoys unprecedented special treatment and facilities in
his three-room "cell" and he can receive any guests he wants, at
any time.

In actuality, he is a cold-blooded criminal, convicted and
found guilty of a terrible crime. The judges, prosecutors and the
prison warden, however, have made him special.

No wonder despite refusal to appeal, Tommy enjoys his life in
jail, which is better than that of other convicted murderers.

-- Koran Tempo, Jakarta