Tommy hit with travel ban for land scam

Tommy hit with travel ban for land scam

JAKARTA (JP): Businessman Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra, the
youngest son of former president Soeharto, was barred from
traveling outside of the city on Friday.

Announced by Attorney General Andi M. Ghalib, the city arrest
is one of the first relatively stern actions taken by President
B.J. Habibie's administration against Soeharto family members for
alleged misdeeds.

Ghalib was quoted by Antara as saying the restriction was
applied to Tommy as a suspect in a Rp 52.5 billion land scam.

A similar travel restriction was previously imposed on two
other suspects in the scam, he said.

Former chief of the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) Beddu Amang
and senior executive of wholesaler PT Goro Batara Sakti, Ricardo
Gelael, were prohibited from leaving the city starting last
Monday.

"If the two other suspects have been barred from leaving the
town, why not Tommy?" Ghalib said.

Separately, head of the Jakarta Prosecutor's Office Syahmardan
Lubis, who received dossiers on the case on Friday, said Tommy
objected to the restriction.

His objection and a request for the city arrest's cancellation
were stated in his dossier, Lubis said, adding suspects' dossiers
were compiled in separate documents.

Lubis argued the measure was only intended to facilitate the
procedures for the trial, expected to be held next week.

"So, if the suspects want to leave Jakarta, they can just ask
permission from the Jakarta High Court," he said.

Accompanied by his lawyer H.M. Dault, Tommy visited Ghalib's
office on Friday to meet a summons for presentation of his
dossier to Lubis, Antara reported.

Ghalib said the ban on Tommy was also meant to show his
office's serious attention and effort in investigating the
alleged scam, including no discrimination against the individual
suspects.

Separately, Attorney General's Office spokesman Soehandoyo
told reporters the city arrest against Tommy was in effect for 20
days. He gave no other details.

Tommy, Beddu and Ricardo will be tried in South Jakarta Court
for alleged roles in the sale of a property belonging to Bulog in
Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta.

The property was bought by Goro, the giant wholesaler in which
Tommy also held shares.

Beddu headed Bulog under Soeharto's regime for several years.
Ricardo was widely known as a close friend of Tommy.

Under the deal struck between Goro and the agency, Bulog was
to receive a 63-hectare plot in Marunda, North Jakarta, worth an
estimated Rp 52.5 billion, in exchange for the Kelapa Gading
site.

However, Bulog received only eight hectares and paid Rp 32.5
billion for the land despite a contract obliging Goro to pick up
the bill.

Bulog also guaranteed a loan of Rp 20 billion which Goro
received from Bank Bukopin to purchase the Marunda site.

Goro Batara Sakti formerly operated wholesalers in Kelapa
Gading and Jl. Pasar Minggu in South Jakarta. The Pasar Minggu
outlet was badly damaged by fire during the May riots and has not
reopened.

Early last year, Tommy sold his entire stake in Goro to
Puskud, a government cooperative.

Beddu was replaced last August after the agency was accused of
gross inefficiency and corruption.

The scam reportedly caused the government Rp 96 billion in
losses.

After undergoing initial questioning in the case, Tommy was
banned by Habibie's government from leaving the country. (emf)