LH, NL/FW, BS & Lyndal Meehan, Jakarta – The plot behind the bombing of the Attorney General's office on July 4 and its connection to the Suharto family continues to unfold. The bombs involved have been traced back to the Army and a former member of President Suharto's personal guard and four employees of one of Tommy's companies are being investigated. Denying prior knowledge of questionable deals, however, is an increasingly evident trend in the Suharto clan's self defense.

Last Thursday, the Chief of Police, General Rusdihardjo, told the press that he had sent the letters necessary to obtain permission to investigate a serving member of the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) who by law may only be investigated in a military court. Rusdihardjo said that there would be no problem investigating the former presidential guard because the two forces would work together.

Today, Jakarta Police Detective Unit Chief, Senior Superintendent Harry Montolalu told the press that four of six witnesses taken from a white hardtop car parked in front of the AG office on the night of the incident were employees of Goro, a wholesale store owned by Hutomo Mandala Putra, known as Tommy Suharto. However, the Police could not confirm whether the four witnesses were at the site at Tommy's instigation.

"Previously, they worked at Goro. Tommy owns Goro. They could be Tommy's friends. It's not clear what was their motive for being at the site. But one thing is clear, their presence at the scene will be investigated," Harry said at the Jakarta Police headquarters on Jl. Sudirman, South Jakarta. Nine bodyguards who accompanied Tommy to the AG office on the day have also been questioned.

As reported widely, a bomb exploded at the AG office on July 4 only an hour after Tommy Suharto was investigated for alleged corruption in relation to the Gatari Air Transport Company case. One day after the minor explosion, the Explosives Detonation Team (Gegana) dsicovered two unexploded bombs weighing two kilograms each which could have blown away a quarter of the building. It's hardly surprising that rumors have been rife that pro-Suharto provocateurs were attempting to discourage the numerous corruption investigations currently underway into the clan and their cronies

Meanwhile, the police investigation has also revealed that finger prints found on the two unexploded bombs in the AG "Round Building" belonged to two individuals rather eight as previously thought. The fingerprints do not match those of the four taken from the white hardtop vehicle.

"At the moment, we are trying to summon people who are responsible for the bombing. While we work, we are also waiting for investigation results from the Army," said Harry explaining that the investigation has been split between the National Police and the Army.

The police Chief himself has admitted the case goes beyond a mere criminal investigation. "This case has implications which go much further. But this does not have to cause uneasiness or pessimism with the current situation," said Rusdihardjo at a meeting of police leaders convened to review the topic "Security Consolidation in the Leadup to the 2000 Parliament Session."

After the meeting, Chief of the Police Detective Unit, Maj.Gen. Chairuddin Ismail said it was now clear the two unexploded bombs came from the Army's ammunition storage facility at Saradan, Madiun, East Java. He said the police would soon be coordinating their investigations into the facility with the military.

Army Chief of Staff, Maj.Gen. Tyasno Sudarto, also confirmed that the Ministry of Defense and Security had ordered bombs of the same make and model from PT Pindad and stored them at the Saradan facility in 1996. The bombs were distributed from the facility and used in Army training exercises. "All of that is noted by the units and can be accounted for administratively," he said.

However, Tyasno did not rule out the possibility that bombs could have been secreted away. "I don't discount the possibility, but it needs to be investigated further. The possibilities at the moment are many and varied," he added.

Tommy himself appeared at the Attorney General's office today to face questioning on the Gatari Air Transport Company and it's relationship with the then Ministry of Forestry, the same case he faced on the day of the bombing.

Previously, both sides denied they initiated an arrangement to lease eight helicopters from the Ministry to PT Gatari to survey Indonesian forests. The Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) were also involved in the logistical support of the project, providing pilots and base facilities. "Lease" being a lose term to describe a deal in which PT Gatari obtained the helicopters but has thus far failed to make any payment.

The debacle has cost the state an estimated around Rp23.3 billion (US$2.8 million) besides the fact that an unknown number of the helicopters are now no longer in working condition.

Leaving the AG offices today, Tommy's only comment to the press was, "In that contract, I am no where to be seen." When questioned on Tommy's knowledge of the deal worked out between PT Gatari and the Ministry, his lawyer, Hakim Simamora, stated later that his client, as Chief Commissioner of the company, only received reports from the Director.

Hakim stressed that in any contract there were rights and obligations. "The Ministry of Forestry was obliged to pay for 20% of the cost of spare parts while it has only handed over 5%. There is also the agreement on the division of profits which was that it would be divided between Gatari and the Ministry," he said. Another obligation the Ministry appears to have reneged on is the matter of payments for the use of Gatari's services. Hakim said that the Ministry was obliged to pay for a minimum of 1000 flying hours per year. "For every hour, the fee was US$645 and it turns out the Ministry has never paid," he said indignantly.

When asked if the case had resulted in any damages suffered by the state, Hakim replied that Gatari wouldn't know about that. Denying prior knowledge of questionable deals appears to be a trend in Tommy's self defense. His father is employing a more extreme version of the tendency. The former president could only remember his own name when questioned last week by a team from the Attorney General's office. Even if a clear link between those close to the Suhartos and the bombing emerges, the trend will no doubt be employed in future.