Murder Trial Begins for Suharto’s Son
The youngest son of ex-dictator Suharto went on trial today, accused in the murder of a Supreme Court judge who had ruled against him.
Hutomo Mandala Putra, better known as Tommy, was handcuffed when he appeared in the Central Jakarta District Court. He said nothing as he made his way into the building surrounded by a crowd of lawyers, bodyguards and reporters.
“The trial against Hutomo Mandala Putra, alias Tommy Suharto, is now open,” Judge Amiruddin Zakaria told a packed courtroom.
The 39-year-old onetime billionaire is accused of ordering hit men to assassinate Justice Syaifudin Kartasasmita, who sentenced him two years ago to 18 months in prison over a multimillion-dollar real estate scam.
The younger Suharto went into hiding six weeks later, and while he was on the run, four men on two motorcycles shot Kartasasmita to death.
The alleged killers, who are standing trial separately, told police that they killed Kartasasmita on orders from Tommy Suharto.
Defense lawyers say they are confident that he will be found innocent.
After a session of about 2 1/2 hours, the trial adjourned until next Wednesday.
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