Tommy is distressed: Penitentiary doctor

Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang

Disgraced murder-plotter Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra was so distressed at the possibility of being transferred to a tougher prison that he could not appear in court on Wednesday, a doctor's letter claimed.

For the second time, the youngest son of former president Soeharto again refused to appear in the Tangerang District Court as a key witness in the trial of three people accused of harboring him during his time as a fugitive.

"Tommy again refused to appear before the court because he is now in distress due to the possibility of being transferred from Cipinang to Sukamiskin Penitentiary in Cilacap, Central Java," prosecutor Puji Raharjo told presiding Judge Zainal Arifin as he handed him a letter from the Cipinang's doctor outlining Tommy's condition.

Puji said the letter, signed by Dr. Ilham and faxed earlier in the day to the prosecutor's office, stated that Tommy was sick and was unable to testify.

The prosecutor asked that the case be delayed for another week, the second such delay.

The Central Jakarta District Court sentenced Tommy to 15-years jail last month after he was found guilty of ordering the murder of Supreme Court Justice Syafiuddin Kartasasmita, illegal possession of weapons and ammunition and fleeing from justice.

Three of Tommy's alleged aides, a former high-ranking army officer's widow, Rossana Hasan, 55, her son Bill Haq, 25, and an ex model and former wife of businessman Setiawan Djodi Ursula, Regina Sandi, 37, stand accused.

They are facing charges of harboring Tommy who fled from justice in September 2000. According to the indictment, it was Sandi who first contacted Rossana and asked if Tommy could hide in her house at Jl Maleo 1X/9 in Bintaro, Tangerang.

The three defendants were charged with violating Articles 55, 64 and 221 of the Criminal Code and face maximum nine-month prison terms.