Robert Go, Jakarta – With President Abdurrahman Wahid breathing down their necks, the Indonesian authorities have stepped up the hunt for former strongman Suharto's youngest son. They plan to seize his properties throughout Jakarta and subpoena his wife to testify on Monday.

Mr Abdurrahman returned from Brunei on Thursday after attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. He reiterated yesterday his deep disappointment at the security apparatus' continual failure to find Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra, a fugitive from the law since the beginning of this month. "The performance of all personnel involved in this matter will be evaluated ... Negligence of duty will have consequences," he told reporters.

Attorney-General Marzuki Darusman and National Police Chief S. Bimantoro are among those in the hot seat after their men bungled Tommy's prosecution. Leading legislators and observers have also criticised the two senior officials after it became clear that the police were negligent in keeping tabs on Tommy prior to the issuance of his arrest orders.

The authorities have responded by turning on the fugitive's young wife and the rest of the Suharto family. In a landmark move against the former First Family, prosecutors intend to take possession of Tommy's 22 properties scattered throughout the capital.

This will be used as collateral against the US$3.3 million fine that the Supreme Court imposed on Tommy, along with his 18-month jail sentence. They also confiscated a home, located in the Suharto family's Cendana complex, belonging to both Tommy and his wife, Ardhia "Tata" Regita Cahyania, earlier this week. The police also announced yesterday their intentions to question Ms Ardhia over her husband's whereabouts.