Prez orders arrest of Suharto’s son after bomb attack

SEPT 15: Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid said Friday he had ordered the arrest of the youngest son of former President Suharto, apparently in connection with the bombing of the Jakarta Stock Exchange. "I have given instructions during yesterday’s cabinet meeting to arrest Tommy Suharto," Wahid told the congregation at a mosque where he was perfoming Friday prayers. Tommy is the name by which Hutomo Mandala Putra, Suharto’s youngest son, is commonly known.

"Today I have also instructed the Jakarta police Chief to arrest Habib Ali Baagil, and investigate …but that doesn’t mean … (he is) necessarily guilty," Wahid said, without explaining who Baagil was, although he is believed to be the leader of a fanatic sect. "But we deem that there is sufficient reason to arrest."

"What for? To avoid further incidents such as the Jakarta Stock Exchange (blast)," he said. "Pity our people because the victims are the little people," Wahid added.

Speculation has been rife in the capital that a recent spate of bombings here were connected with the corruption trial of the former strongman, who ruled the country with an iron fist for 32 years. Reporters at the mosque said Wahid had not made it absolutely clear whether the arrest order for Tommy was directly linked to Wednesday’s bombing of the exchange which Left 10 people dead and 27 injured. Tommy is also under investigation for alleged corruption.