Tommy acquitted of graft charges
Tommy acquitted of graft charges
JAKARTA (JP): South Jakarta District Court exonerated on
Thursday former president Soeharto's youngest son Hutomo "Tommy"
Mandala Putra and his business associate Ricardo Gelael, both
executives of the wholesale firm PT Goro Batara Sakti, from all
corruption charges in a Rp 95.4 billion (US$13.4 million) land
exchange deal with the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) in 1995.
Judge Soenarto, who presided over the hearing against Tommy,
said the court did not have enough evidence to prove that the
criminal charges pressed by the prosecutors against the defendant
were true.
"There is no evidence that the state or Bulog suffered losses
in its deal with PT Goro Batara Sakti.
"If Bulog suffered losses, it should file a lawsuit at a civil
court. It's a civil case," Soenarto said, while reading the 278-
page verdict.
The judge said Tommy did not play an active role in the
exchange deal, signed in Feb. 1995, as it was mostly handled by
Goro's president, Ricardo.
"There is no evidence that Tommy abused his authority. So he
should be freed," Soenarto said. This was immediately applauded
by dozens of Tommy's supporters.
Tommy, who arrived at the court at 9:30 a.m. in his Timor
jeep, repeatedly hugged members of his team of lawyers, led by M.
Dault.
Prosecutor Fachmi said he would appeal to the Supreme Court.
He accused the judges of passing a wrong verdict.
"The judges never mentioned that the crime was collectively
committed by Tommy, Ricardo and Beddu (former Bulog chairman
Beddu Amang). It's not only about Tommy," he told reporters after
the hearing.
"Although Goro has compensated the losses it does not mean
that the case is settled.
"Many corruptors would be free people if they could return the
money they defrauded," he said.
Fachmi earlier asked the court to sentence Goro's former
president commissioner to two years in jail and order him to
repay Rp 28.15 billion to the state in compensation for the
losses.
He said Tommy violated Article 28 of Law No. 3/1971 on
corruption, which carries a maximum punishment of 20 years in
jail.
In a separate courtroom, presiding judge Djalius Amin
similarly declared Ricardo not guilty and freed the former Goro
president from all charges.
"There is no evidence that the state suffered losses in the
land exchange deal," Djalius said.
Prosecutor Dachamer Munthe, who earlier asked the court to
sentence Ricardo to two years in jail, said he would also file an
appeal to the Supreme Court.
Wearing a brown long-sleeve T-shirt, Ricardo burst into tears
and could only tell reporters, "Alhamdullilah (Thanks be to
God)."
Tommy, Ricardo and Beddu were simultaneously indicted at the
court in April this year. Beddu's indictment was later dropped
since he was still a member of the People's Consultative Assembly
(MPR).
The defendants were indicted for their alleged involvement in
an exchange deal over 50 hectares of land belonging to Bulog in
the Kelapa Gading area, North Jakarta. Goro, in return, was
obliged to provide 71 hectares of land in Marunda, North Jakarta.
Chairman of the Foundation of the Indonesian Legal Aid
Institute (YLBHI) Bambang Widjoyanto said Tommy's verdict
indicated that President B.J. Habibie had not been serious in
handling corruption cases, especially related to Soeharto, his
relatives and associates. (jun)