Tommy to testify against Sidiq

JAKARTA: Convicted felon Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra is scheduled to testify as a witness in the trial of Islamic boarding school leader Abdullah Sidiq Muin at the Central Jakarta District Court on Monday after previously skipping the trial on seven occasions.

Tommy's lawyer Elza Syarief said doctors at Gatot Subroto Army Hospital, where Tommy has been receiving medical treatment for a tumor behind his left eye and a stomach ulcer since Tuesday have said Tommy is fit to attend the trial. Likewise, officials of Batu Penitentiary on Nusakambangan island, Central Java, where he has been serving his 15-year prison term for illegal arms possession and masterminding the murder of Supreme Court Judge Syafiuddin Kartasasmita, have granted permission to attend the trial.

"It won't be a problem for Tommy to attend although he is sick. In any case, the defendant is also sick," Elza said at the hospital.

Tommy will be taken to the court in an ambulance accompanied by a doctor and a nurse from the hospital.

"Due to health concerns, the doctors hope the witness' examination will not be more than two hours," Elza said. -- JP