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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Tommy Suharto freed from prison | Tommy Suharto freed from prison |
| (4 days later) | |
| The son of Indonesia's former President Suharto has been freed from jail on conditional release after serving only four years of a murder sentence. | The son of Indonesia's former President Suharto has been freed from jail on conditional release after serving only four years of a murder sentence. |
| Hutomo Mandala Putra, also known as Tommy, was given a 15-year sentence in 2002 following his conviction for ordering the killing of a judge. | Hutomo Mandala Putra, also known as Tommy, was given a 15-year sentence in 2002 following his conviction for ordering the killing of a judge. |
| His sentence was first cut to 10 years, and then reduced further. | His sentence was first cut to 10 years, and then reduced further. |
| Human rights activists and anti-corruption campaigners have voiced strong opposition to his release | Human rights activists and anti-corruption campaigners have voiced strong opposition to his release |
| Scuffles broke out as he was driven from the prison in east Jakarta. | Scuffles broke out as he was driven from the prison in east Jakarta. |
| His van was surrounded by dozens of reporters and photographers as he left for the prosecutor's office, where his release was made official. | His van was surrounded by dozens of reporters and photographers as he left for the prosecutor's office, where his release was made official. |
| 'State of law' | 'State of law' |
| Officials said Tommy Suharto was eligible for release after receiving his most recent sentence reduction along with thousands of other prisoners to mark Eid al-Fitr, the end of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan. | Officials said Tommy Suharto was eligible for release after receiving his most recent sentence reduction along with thousands of other prisoners to mark Eid al-Fitr, the end of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan. |
| Under Indonesian law, prisoners who have shown good conduct and have served more than two-thirds of their sentence once the remissions are taken into account are eligible for parole. | Under Indonesian law, prisoners who have shown good conduct and have served more than two-thirds of their sentence once the remissions are taken into account are eligible for parole. |
| Vice President Yusuf Kalla rejected criticism that the Indonesian authorities were favouring him because of his family connections. | Vice President Yusuf Kalla rejected criticism that the Indonesian authorities were favouring him because of his family connections. |
| "This is a state of law," he told reporters. "Once he completes his sentence ... he should be released." | "This is a state of law," he told reporters. "Once he completes his sentence ... he should be released." |
| Officials said he would remain on parole for a year. | Officials said he would remain on parole for a year. |
| A leading Indonesian human rights lawyer, Johnson Pandjaitan, said it was wrong to view the release as automatic. | A leading Indonesian human rights lawyer, Johnson Pandjaitan, said it was wrong to view the release as automatic. |
| "Conditional release is never automatic. Nothing is really automatic. It should go through a certain process," he told Reuters news agency. | "Conditional release is never automatic. Nothing is really automatic. It should go through a certain process," he told Reuters news agency. |
| Embezzlement charges | Embezzlement charges |
| The 44-year-old former playboy was found guilty in 2002 on charges of murder, weapons possession and evading justice. | The 44-year-old former playboy was found guilty in 2002 on charges of murder, weapons possession and evading justice. |
| He was convicted of masterminding the assassination of Supreme Court Judge Syafiuddin Kartasasmita who was shot dead by gunmen on a motorcycle. | He was convicted of masterminding the assassination of Supreme Court Judge Syafiuddin Kartasasmita who was shot dead by gunmen on a motorcycle. |
| Judge Kartasasmita had himself convicted Tommy for corruption and illegal possession of weapons. | Judge Kartasasmita had himself convicted Tommy for corruption and illegal possession of weapons. |
| Tommy's father Suharto stepped down in 1998 amid an economic crisis and rising discontent. | Tommy's father Suharto stepped down in 1998 amid an economic crisis and rising discontent. |
| The 84-year-old ailing former leader is accused of embezzling millions of dollars in state funds during his three decades in power, a charge he denies. | The 84-year-old ailing former leader is accused of embezzling millions of dollars in state funds during his three decades in power, a charge he denies. |