Tommy's men charged with murder

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.