Suharto's son Tommy moved to prison island

0 Comments | Asian Political News, August 19, 2002

JAKARTA, Aug. 15 Kyodo

Hutomo ''Tommy'' Mandala Putra, the convicted son of former President Suharto, was on Thursday transferred from a Jakarta prison to a notorious penal island off Central Java Province, officials said.

The move follows criticism of special treatment Tommy was receiving at Cipinang Penitentiary, where the former playboy enjoyed all the comforts of home in his bigger cell separated from other prisoners.

Tommy, 40, last month was sentenced to 15 years in jail for masterminding the murder of a Supreme Court judge, illegal possession of weapons and evading a graft conviction.

According to Justice and Human Rights Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra, around 6:30 a.m. Tommy was transported by a small plane from Pondok Cabe airport in South Jakarta to the Central Java town of Cilacap, where he was later flown by helicopter to Nusakambangan Island.

''He was moved because of security reasons. Because he is under a maximum-security arrangement, he will be placed alone in one cell,'' Yusril said.

Yusril added that Tommy's cell is located next to that of Muhhamad ''Bob'' Hasan, a business partner of Tommy's father who is serving a six-year term for corruption.

''There is no special reason for that. However, from the positive point of view, if he (Tommy) is close to an older man, he could get some advice from him (Bob),'' Yusril said.

Tommy was the first Suharto family member to be put on trial even though his father and siblings have also been questioned over several graft cases.

Suharto was toppled in 1998 after 32 years in power, during which his six children and many relatives and cronies became top businessmen in the country.