Tommy's sentence may be too light

Tommy's sentence may be too light

From Rakyat Merdeka

It is really disappointing to hear that the prosecutor has demanded only 15 years' imprisonment for Tommy Soeharto. The prosecutor may have been afraid of demanding a longer prison term. The judge might also be afraid and hand down a verdict of only 10 years in prison.

For Judicial Watch Indonesia, what the prosecutor has demanded for the premeditated murder of Supreme Justice Syafiuddin Kartasasmita and illegal ownership of firearms is a scandal, indicative of collusion. The reasons for this opinion are as follows:

* The prosecutor has not been consistent with the prosecution's charges, which imply a penalty of capital punishment or life imprisonment for Tommy.

* The prosecutor may have been inconsistent in applying his multiple prosecutions, designed to ensure that Tommy is subject to a maximum sentence.

* The prosecutor has ignored the fact that Tommy is the mastermind in this premeditated murder as two defendants acting as Tommy's accessories have received a heavier penalty than had been demanded by the prosecutor.

* There is suspicion that the prosecutor has ignored a legal requirement to apply the principle of equality before the law for all citizens committing criminal acts, Tommy included.

Now that the prosecutor has demanded only a light sentence, whether or not the judicial proceedings will be honest, fair and impartial rests with the panel of judges.

The panel must therefore creatively and progressively delve deeper into and weigh the facts in the course of the judicial proceedings to ensure that the most honest verdict can be passed on Tommy's case and that the defendant is given the maximum sentence.

A. MUHAMMAD ASRUN

Chairman of Executive

Council of Judicial

Watch Indonesia

Jakarta