Suharto son demands safety guarantee before surrendering

Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra was convicted in September in connection with an $11 million land scam

November 7, 2000
Web posted at: 10:34 a.m. HKT (0234 GMT)

JAKARTA, Indonesia (Reuters) -- Attempts to jail the fugitive son of former Indonesian President Suharto took another twist early Tuesday when he refused to surrender unless his safety behind bars could be guaranteed.

Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra has been missing since Friday night when prosecutors first tried to take him to jail to serve an 18-month sentence for graft.

"Until midnight (1700 GMT) Tommy was intending to surrender but at midnight he got a call threatening his life and he felt afraid," defense lawyer Bob Nasution told reporters.

He said he did not know where his client was and could only contact him by mobile phone. It was not clear how the caller with the death threat had managed to contact Tommy.

"He requested security from the state because he fears for his safety. We have tried to persuade him (to surrender)...but have not succeeded," Nasution added.

Tommy is supposed to start his sentence in Jakarta's Cipinang jail, once filled with critics and dissidents of his father's 32-year iron rule which finally ended in 1998 amid social and economic mayhem.

Another lawyer said members of Tommy's legal team and officials from the Justice Ministry were now discussing guarantees of Tommy's safety once inside jail.

But the head of the Justice Ministry's Jakarta office ruled out any special deal for the son of the former autocract.

"The alternative is to get inside Cipinang first. Then we will shift him to another prison...the Cipinang warden has already guaranteed his safety."

The so-far fruitless efforts to jail the 38-year-old former playboy businessman -- prisoner number 2085 -- have enthralled Indonesians, who have watched with fascination the downfall of the family that once dominated their country.

The one-time racing car driver, who bears a strong physical resemblance to his father, has been put on the official wanted list and police teams hunted for him over the weekend.

But the family is still seen as a force to be reckoned with -- backed by old loyalties and massive wealth.

President Abdurrahman Wahid has linked Tommy to a spate of mysterious bombings in Jakarta -- a claim he denies.

The explosions, including one which killed 15 at the Jakarta Stock Exchange complex, have coincided with legal action against the Suhartos and some fear Tommy's arrest could trigger more.

Tommy was convicted in September in connection with an $11 million land scam.

He is the first of the Suharto clan -- accused of corruptly amassing up to $45 billion during his 32-year, army-backed rule -- to be convicted.

Widely unpopular, Tommy headed a number of businesses which for many people represented the excesses that came to be associated with the autocratic rule of President Suharto.

Prosecutors have separately appealed a court ruling dismissing a corruption case against 79-year old Suharto himself on the grounds he is too ill to stand trial.

Copyright 2000 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Indonesia authorities on way to jail former president's son
November 3, 2000

CIA World Factbook: Indonesia
Indonesian National Commission on Human Rights

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