Tommy cannot seek review of verdict, says Yusril

Tommy cannot seek review of verdict, says Yusril

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Justice and Human Rights Yusril Ihza
Mahendra said that former president Soeharto's son Hutomo "Tommy"
Mandala Putra, who was sentenced to an 18-month jail sentence for
corruption, could not seek a judicial review of the court's
verdict as he is also seeking a pardon from President Abdurrahman
Wahid.

"His requests for a pardon and a review of the verdict are
mutually contradictory," he told The Jakarta Post here on
Tuesday, adding that the verdict must be executed immediately as
the President has already said he would reject the petition for a
pardon.

The President said recently that he would not pardon
Soeharto's youngest son who, along with his business partner
Ricardo Gelael, was convicted of a Rp 95 billion (US$11 million)
land swindle.

However, Abdurrahman has also admitted that he has personally
met with Tommy at a private meeting in which Tommy reportedly
again requested a pardon.

Many see Tommy's attempt to simultaneously petition for a
judicial review and a pardon as being a ruse to avoid having to
serve time in jail.

Yusril on Tuesday said Tommy could appeal to the Supreme Court
to review the verdict while serving his jail sentence, if he had
new evidence disproving the corruption charges.

"But, first of all, he (Tommy) must serve the jail sentence.
If he appeals to the court with new evidence (novum in Indonesian
law), then that is another matter," he said. (rms)