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Indonesia's 'Tommy' denies murder role |
JAKARTA, Indonesia (Reuters) -- Former president Suharto's son Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra has denied masterminding the murder of a Supreme Court judge, Indonesian police said.
But Jakarta police spokesman Anton Bahrul Alam said there is still enough evidence to link him to the July slaying of judge Syafiuddin Kartasasmita.
Kartasasmita last year handed Tommy an 18-month jail sentence due to his involvement in state food agency Bulog, which was embroiled in a graft case.
"He indeed did not confess. We do not need his confession...," Alam told Reuters news agency by phone. "What is important is the evidence and there are enough witnesses (for a charge)."
Alam however did not elaborate on when police might submit a case file against Tommy.
In Indonesia, police need to file a dossier with prosecutors who are then responsible for charging defendants and seeking a court hearing.
Police detained Tommy last week after eluding arrest for a year due to a graft conviction. That conviction, however, was eventually reversed.
Tommy is now being investigated for masterminding a series of bomb blasts and keeping illegal arms, in addition to being linked to the murder, police said.
Although the police vowed to seriously pursue the cases, many in Indonesia are doubtful justice will be served given several reverses of judgment in the graft case against Tommy and his ability to stay a fugitive for so long.
The youngest son of former President Suharto has been the only member of the ex-autocrat's family to be brought to court over the graft that critics say blemished the former general's 32-years in power.
Tommy lent his name to a number of lucrative deals during his father's rule.
He received special tax breaks to build and sell a national car and held a monopoly on clove trading -- the spice used in Indonesia's much-smoked kretek cigarettes.
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