Tommy's men charged with murder
Muninggar Sri Saraswati and Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Central Jakarta District Court began on Monday the trial relating to the drive-by shooting of Supreme Justice M. Syafiuddin Kartasasmita last July, which was allegedly masterminded by former president Soeharto's youngest son, Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra.
At the opening, prosecutor Abdul Kamar Badrun read the indictment against defendants Noval Hadad, 26, and R. Maulawarman, alias Molla, 37.
Both defendants face charges of premeditated murder, which carries the death penalty. They looked calm during the hearing, which started two hours late, at 12 p.m.
According to the indictment, the two defendants acted on the orders of Tommy Soeharto, who hired them to kill Syafiuddin, a member of the panel of judges who sentenced him to 18 months in jail for corruption.
"Tommy informed Molla that Syafiuddin usually left his home for the office between 8 a.m and 9 a.m.," Prosecutor Abdul Kamar said in the courtroom, which was packed with reporters.
Tommy was also the one who explained to Molla the location of Syafiuddin's home in North Jakarta.
Molla and Noval carried out the well-planned murder on July 26.
Riding a black motorbike, Molla and Noval followed Syafiuddin, who left his home at about 8 a.m. in a silver Honda CRV.
As Syafiuddin crossed Jl. Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, Molla drove his motorbike to within half a meter of the car.
Noval, sitting behind Molla, raised his left hand and then shot Syafiuddin, who was behind the steering wheel, with a black Baretta caliber 9 millimeter.
The car lost control and came to a halt after crashing into a stall.
"Noval then approached the car and again shot Syafiuddin at least three times," said Abdul.
The murder was planned in early June when Tommy's aide, Dody Harjito, met Molla in Difa Bar, Senayan, Central Jakarta, and asked the latter to help his boss "eliminate his enemy".
Molla, who was the bar employee, accepted Dody's offer.
Dody, a defendant for the same case, is scheduled to be indicted on Wednesday at South Jakarta District Court.
Early July, Molla met Tommy and Dody in Dody's home in Pondok Indah, South Jakarta, to discuss the murder plan.
Molla met them once again at another location in Pondok Indah, South Jakarta.
"At that time, Tommy gave him a piece of paper with an address written on it and a photograph attached," Abdul told the court.
Tommy also provided Molla with a mobile phone to report to him while Dody gave Molla Rp 10 million (US$970) to buy a motorcycle to carry out the assassination.
Molla then bought a black Yamaha RX King motorbike bearing the number plate B-5118-KU.
Tommy then gave Molla $10,000 to hire another killer. Molla asked his relative, Meika Supranata, to help him find somebody suitable. Meika recommended Noval, Molla's accomplice.
Presiding Judge Amiruddin Zakaria adjourned the hearing until next week for arraignment, to hear the defense case from the defendants and their lawyers, Sunaryo Saruddin and Suhardi Somomoeljono.
In another development, Jakarta Police submitted on Monday Tommy's two dossiers of alleged crimes to the Jakarta Prosecutor's Office.
The two dossiers are on the murder of Syafiuddin and on the possession of firearms and ammunition, both of which carry the death penalty.
The head of the police investigation team on cases related to Tommy, Comr. Arismunandar, said investigators would now proceed with other crimes involving those who helped Tommy during his time on the run.
Police have so far declared model Sandy Harun, Lanny Banjaranti, Cana Hasan and her son Iqbal as suspects.