Suharto's son linked to bombings, assassination
Last Updated: Tuesday, August 7, 2001 | 10:28 AM ET
CBC News
A late-night raid on a house owned by Hutomo Mandala Putera, or Tommy Suharto, netted explosives, guns, and fake identification cards, said police.
They also arrested two suspects in the July 26 murder of Supreme Court Justice Syafiuddin Kartasasmita. He was gunned down by four motorcycle-riding assassins as he drove to work.
He was the judge who last fall sentenced Tommy to 18 months in jail for his connection to a multi-million-dollar land scam. After his conviction and sentencing, Tommy used a series of legal stalling tactics to avoid incarceration and ultimately disappeared last November.
The two men captured, Rolan and Noval – like many Indonesians, they have only one name – admitted to the murder, and said they used a gun provided by Tommy and were paid by him.
His lawyer, Otto Kaligis, says he doesn't know where his client is hiding, but denied Tommy had anything to do with the new accusations.
Police are linking Tommy with several incidents that have increased tension in the country, including bombings carried out by rebel forces from Aceh. Jakarta police have given Tommy three days to surrender.
Tommy is the only member of the Suharto clan to have been convicted of any crime. The family is accused of embezzling billions of dollars during the 32-year-rule of Suharto.
Charges against Suharto himself were dropped last year because the court ruled the 80-year-old man is too ill and weak to stand trial.
