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Indonesian Graft Watchdogs: Time Is Ripe to Hit Tommy Suharto Hard
Markus Junianto Sihaloho | August 11, 2010

Antigraft groups have called on the Attorney General’s Office to seek the seizure of assets in Guernsey belonging to Hutomo “Tommy” Mandala Putra, in this file photo, estimated to be some Rp 1.22 trillion ($135 million). (AFP Photo/Adek Berry) Antigraft groups have called on the Attorney General’s Office to seek the seizure of assets in Guernsey belonging to Hutomo “Tommy” Mandala Putra, in this file photo, estimated to be some Rp 1.22 trillion ($135 million). (AFP Photo/Adek Berry)
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Jakarta. Leading antigraft groups have called on the Attorney General’s Office to seek the seizure of assets in Guernsey belonging to the youngest son of former President Suharto, following a Supreme Court ruling to seize his Indonesian assets.

Last month, the court overturned a decision it made two years ago and sided with the government in a civil case against Hutomo “Tommy” Mandala Putra to seize Rp 1.22 trillion ($135 million) in assets belonging to his defunct carmaker, PT Timor Putra Nasional.

At a press conference in Jakarta on Tuesday, Transparency International Indonesia secretary general Teten Masduki called the ruling a “golden opportunity” for the state to reclaim the 36 million euros Tommy is believed to have in Guernsey.

He said the Guernsey authorities’ previous reluctance to freeze the assets was based on the Indonesian government’s continued failure to do the same at home.

“This verdict in the Timor Putra Nasional case should built on by the AGO to get back the assets held overseas,” Teten said.

“It’s proof of the government’s seriousness to take on Tommy. The AGO must immediately file for a freeze at BNP Paribas.”

Last year, authorities in Guernsey froze his assets following claims by Jakarta that the funds were derived from corruption linked to the Suharto family’s businesses.

Tommy immediately filed a lawsuit against the injunction, and in January 2010 the Guernsey High Court unblocked the accounts, saying that Jakarta had failed to provide sufficient evidence to categorically implicate Tommy in corruption.

On Tuesday, Indonesia Corruption Watch activist Adnan Topan Husodo also called on the government to start new proceedings against Tommy to recover his overseas assets.

“All the assets must be brought back to Indonesia,” he said.

Adnan warned that a lax approach by the Indonesian government could compromise future requests for freezes of Tommy’s funds.

Tommy owes the state Rp 4 trillion for a loan he took out against the failed carmaker.