Whitewashing Tommy’s Money

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Questions still remain regarding the release of funds belonging to Motorbike Corporation, a Bahamas-based company owned by the convicted Hutomo Mandala Putra alias Tommy Suharto. The law firm owned by Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra helped him to get this money, which was released from Bank Paribas London in February 2005.

Supporting documents from a number of government offices and state institutions were obtained, thanks to the assistance of one of the subordinate officials working under Yusril, who at that time was the Justice & Legal Affairs Minister. This official even used a departmental bank account—as authorized by Minister Hamid Awaludin, Yusril’s successor. What was the motive for Yusril and Hamid to assist in the release of that Rp90 billion?

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IGA Mawarni was astonished. This jazz singer did not expect her press conference would be so lively, drawing the attendance of scores of reporters. She enthusiastically spoke about the matter of copyright infringement at the Justice & Human Rights Department, in Jakarta, on Friday last week.

Sitting next to Iga, at the same table, was Minister of Justice & Human Rights Hamid Awaludin. However, Iga and scores of other celebrities were startled w

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