Tommy told to show up or risk imprisonment

Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak and Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra, Soeharto's youngest son, will lose his legal victory if he fails to show up and sign the documents at the South Jakarta Prosecutors' office, a state prosecutor said on Friday.

Head of the South Jakarta Prosecutors' Office Antasari Azhar said that the documents had to be signed by Tommy personally and nobody else could do it on his behalf.

Tommy was convicted last year of corruption and sentenced to 18 months imprisonment after his appeal for a presidential pardon was rejected. After he had been a fugitive for 11 months, the Supreme Court accepted Tommy's appeal on Oct. 1 for a judicial review submitted by his lawyers.

Antasari, who was Tommy's prosecutor, said he had summoned Tommy to appear on Monday. If he failed to show up, Tommy would have to give an explanation.

"The Supreme Court's ruling doesn't automatically give back Tommy's rights and property seized as collateral to recover the state's losses. Until he appears and signs the documents, he remains a convict," he told The Jakarta Post.

In an interview with a private TV station, Antasari said that he would give another six days for Tommy to turn up and sign the documents.

Tommy's lawyer Nudirman Munir said on Friday that he would try to contact the fugitive and persuade him to see Antasari on Monday.

"I believe signing the order is the only way to recover his seized property and the frozen bank accounts. But I cannot guarantee that he will come. Let's just wait and see," he told the Post before meeting Antasari.

Nudirman said that the meeting was to discuss the summons for Tommy.

Ricardo Gelael

Tommy's release has raised questions about what Ricardo Gelael, Tommy's business partner who has served time for the same case, will probably do.

In an interview with The Jakarta Post, his lawyer Adnan Buyung Nasution said Ricardo had no intention of seeking compensation but would rather enjoy his freedom after he was released for good conduct after he had served half of his 18-month jail term.

Gelael and Tommy were sentenced to 18 months in prison for their involvement in a Rp 95.4 billion (US$9.50 million) land exchange deal with Bulog (the State Logistics Agency).

At the time, Tommy and Gelael were PT Goro Batara Sakti's commissioner and director respectively.

"My client was released from Cipinang Penitentiary last month. What he wants is simply to be with his family again, and nothing else," Buyung said.