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