Jakarta – The Indonesian Advocates and Lawyers Association (HAPI) reprimanded on Monday a lawyer defending Tommy Soeharto on weapons and murder charges for influencing witnesses to change their testimony, according to reports.

Elza Syarief violated the association's code of ethics by influencing witnesses to change their testimony in the trial of Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra, HAPI's ethics council said, as quoted by Antara.

The association has issued a "strong reprimand" against Elza, said Yan Apul Girsang, the chairman of the panel investigating the matter.

Tommy, the youngest son of former president Soeharto, is charged with masterminding the murder of Supreme Court justice Syafiuddin Kartasasmita in July 2001, 10 months after the justice had sentenced him to 18 months in prison for graft.

Elza, who has been detained by the police on bribery charges since May 6, was not present at Monday's final hearing of the association's ethics council.

Elza has admitted to giving money to three witnesses to purchase new clothes and to rent a car and driver for their court appearances. She has denied bribing the witnesses.