Tommy's murder charge complete
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Police completed on Sunday their investigation into the involvement of Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra in the murder of Supreme Court Justice Syafiuddin Kartasasmita.
Tommy's lawyer Elza Syarif told journalists on Sunday afternoon that she had been informed that police had wrapped up their investigation of the case.
"It might be ready to be signed later on this evening (Sunday). That's what the investigators told me," Elza said.
This means that eleven days after capturing Tommy, police can now pursue the two other crimes that police claim Tommy is suspected of: The illegal possession of arms and masterminding a series of bomb attacks in the capital.
Police were not immediately available for confirmation, though the police had earlier suggested that Tommy could be charged under Article 340 of the Criminal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of death.
There was also no immediate information whether police would immediately hand over the dossiers to prosecutors, as was usually the practice, or wait till investigations on the other two are completed.
Elza insisted on Sunday that despite having completed the dossiers, police have yet to present Tommy with any material evidence on his alleged involvement in the case, such as a bullet or a murder weapon.
"So far, they have not shown us any evidence that they might have," she remarked.
Meanwhile, senior lawyer Luhut M.P. Pangaribuan expressed concern of possible legal manipulation, which might eventually stifle attempts to convict Tommy.
Without giving details, he warned that possible loopholes could be found in the police investigation, or the judge's final verdict.
"There are many possibilities that they (the lawyers) can seek and play with, given a client like Tommy and our prevailing legal conditions," Luhut remarked.
He pointed out that in the past few days the defense had tried to drag big name figures into the case to distract public attention and spread the blame.
"For me, that is unethical, very unethical," he said.
Luhut, who is a lawyer for former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid, said this was happening to his client.
Tommy's lawyers have just filed a lawsuit against Raden Doddy Sumadi for allegedly extorting money from Tommy.
Doddy is portrayed as a close ally of Abdurrahman who helped arrange the infamous meetings between the two.
Luhut claims that if police do summon Abdurrahman, on the grounds that Tommy claimed the then president had been a pushing factor in his escape from conviction, then the police have clearly been deceived into this defense strategy.
But Abdurrahman's daughter, Zannuba Arifah Chafsoh Rahman, urged police on Sunday to quickly summon her father so the matter could be cleared up.
"Bapak (father) is ready to go to Jakarta Police Headquarters (to testify). He has even asked that the questioning be held in the near future," she said, as quoted by Antara.