Tommy still enjoys special treatment
Tommy still enjoys special treatment
Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Former president Soeharto's youngest son Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala
Putra continues to enjoy special treatment even though he is now
behind bars at Cipinang Penitentiary in East Jakarta.
While other detainees have to share a cell with three or four
other people, Tommy, who was sent to the penitentiary on
Wednesday, occupies a newly renovated, spacious, furnished cell
in a separate block.
Tommy receives special treatment not only from prison guards,
but also from inmates.
During Idul Adha (Sacrifice Day) prayers at the penitentiary's
mosque on Friday, an inmate carried his branded sandals. It was
apparent that everybody wanted to win his favor in hope that they
might enjoy a bit of Tommy's abundant wealth.
And the once untouchable billionaire demonstrated that he knew
how to behave.
He impressed both inmates and guards by donating a goat and a
cow. The cow was sacrificed in the name of his father Soeharto,
who was once indicted for corruption but escaped trial because of
ill health, his late mother, his wife and two children.
"It's good to have wealthy newcomers. From experience, I've
always found them to be very generous," said prisoner 'Toni',
referring to his experience with Tommy's business partner Ricardo
Gelael.
Ricardo and Tommy were sentenced to 18 months in jail each for
graft. Unlike Tommy, who escaped to avoid the sentence, Ricardo
served the jail term at the penitentiary.
"He always gave us cakes, expensive cigarettes, soap and
sometimes he gave us money. It was nothing to him, but (in
return) we wouldn't touch him," Toni added.
Tommy, who looked quiet, shook hands with other inmates after
prayers, while several unidentified men protected him from the
press.
The 40-year-old man is a suspect in the murder of Supreme
Court Justice M. Syafiuddin Kartasasmita, one of the judges who
sentenced Tommy in October 2000 to 18 months in jail for
corruption. After Tommy's request for a presidential pardon was
rejected by then president Abdurrahman Wahid in November 2000,
Tommy ran away. He was arrested in November last year.
In the first few days after the arrest, Tommy slept in an air-
conditioned room at the city police headquarters and did not wear
a detainee's uniform.
On Thursday, his sisters, wife and lawyer visited him after
visiting hours in an administration room instead of the visitor's
room. One of his friends even visited him in his cell, a guard
said.
There is a living room, a bedroom and a bathroom inside
Tommy's cell, which used to be occupied by political prisoners
who were jailed during his father's term. It is equipped with a
television, a fan and a foam mattress.
"They lay ceramics in the bathroom last week. They changed the
toilet, too," an inmate told The Jakarta Post.
To ensure Tommy's safety, the penitentiary has assigned 10 of
its 396 officers to guard him around the clock, according to
Cipinang warden Ngusman.
Tommy's cell is located about 100 meters east of the main gate
of the eight-hectare penitentiary.
Other prisoners cannot easily reach the cell as they would
have to pass three gates.