Tommy to testify against Sidiq

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