Tommy told to show up or risk imprisonment
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.