Business By Appointment Only

Tommy Suharto knows very well the meaning of money in a corrupt country such as Indonesia. With money begotten from prosperous businesses when his father was in power, he could buy nearly anything. Comfort in jail, justice, loyalty. Legendary criminal Al Caponeif he were still alivewould be green at the gills with envy if hed heard about Tommy. The latter is occupying a fully air-conditioned cell in Cipinang Prison, free to meet anyone, run his businesses as he wishes, and continues to breathe easily while other businessmen are flat on their backs from the crisis. From his cell, Tommy can even choose the guards he wants. This is the dark side of our justice system, which makes many people only too happy to become the biggest crooks. Woe befalls petty criminals: TEMPO investigations have uncoveredamong othersaround 40 inmates whose sin was to object to Tommys special treatment and were consequently transferred out to other prisons. Last week, this famous prisoner appeared in one of the exhibition halls of Jakarta Fair Ground in Kemayoran, which had been transformed into a courtroom for the spectacle. The playboy son of former president Suharto is charged with the murder of Supreme Judge Kartasasmita. Win or lose, Tommy has actually already won control of the prison, the jail where he now holds court.