Tommy to testify at Tangerang District Court
Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang
Former President Soeharto's youngest son Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra is scheduled next week to testify at the Tangerang District Court in the trial of three people accused of harboring him during his escape.
"Tommy is a key witness in the trial. I must present him to testify before the court," prosecutor Puji Rahardjo told The Jakarta Post outside the courtroom on Wednesday.
Puji said that he would coordinate right away with the Central Jakarta District court, the warden of Cipinang Penitentiary in East Jakarta and the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights.
Tommy, who is currently held at the penitentiary, is facing a possible 15-year jail term for his alleged role in the murder of Supreme Court Justice Syafiuddin Kartasasmita, illegal possession of ammunition and weapons, and flight from justice.
The Central Jakarta District Court will present the verdict on Friday.
Three of Tommy's aides, a former high-ranking Army officer's widow Rossana Hasan, 55, her son Bill Haq, 25, and a former model and ex-wife of businessman Setiawan Djodi, Regina Ursula Sandi, 37, are on trial at Tangerang District Court.
They are facing charges of harboring fugitive Tommy who fled from justice after he, along with businessman Richardo Gelael, was sentenced to an 18-month jail term for graft in September 2000.
While Tommy was on the run, Syafiuddin, one of the judges who had sentenced him, was shot dead.
Tommy was arrested while taking a nap at Rossana's house in Bintaro, Tangerang, on Nov. 28 last year. Prosecutors said that it was Sandi who had first contacted Rossana and asked to use her house as a hiding place for Tommy.
On Wednesday, three city police detectives were summoned to testify in the trial. They were Adj. Comr. M. Muh Saleh, Com. Joko Purwadi and Adj. Comr. Danang. D.
Danang arrived at the court in the morning, but when he was called to give testimony, he could not be found.
During the one-hour session, Saleh told the court that Tommy was arrested at the house in Bintaro, while Joko said he had received reports about Tommy's arrest.
Both witnesses said that they had no knowledge of Sandi Harun at all.
Saleh said that when he, along with other officers, arrested Tommy, he only found Rossana and her son Bill.
Joko said that he also took Rp 2 million as evidence seized from Rossana, which was part of the Rp 10 million the defendant said she had received as house rent from Tommy.
Tall and slim Sandi, who was clad in beige pants, pink shirt and wore glasses, as well as the other two defendants, said they had no objection to the testimony.
The defendants were charged with violating Articles 55, 64 and 221 of the Criminal Code. The articles carry a maximum punishment of nine months in prison.
As the session started at 10 a.m., or an hour earlier than scheduled, many reporters, including those of TV stations, missed the session.
Prosecutor Puji Rahardjo added that he would propose that the court conduct a hearing at the house where Tommy was arrested.