Tommy Suharto convicted

Tommy led a flamboyant lifestyle during his father's 32-year rule

The youngest son of former Indonesian President Suharto has been sentenced to 18 months in jail for graft.

Former President Suharto faces a trial of his own

The conviction, which took many by surprise, is the first of any member of Mr Suharto's family for corruption during his 32-year iron rule.

Mr Suharto himself is due in court on Thursday for the resumption of his own multi-million dollar corruption trial.

His son, Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra's, was convicted over a 1995 land-swap deal involving government property.

The deal was said to have caused losses to the state of some 95bn rupiah ($10.8m).

Appeal

The Supreme Court decision was welcomed by anti-graft campaigners in Indonesia.

The ruling overturns an acquittal by a lower court in October 1998 on the same charges.

Tommy's lawyer, Nudirman Munir, said he would immediately appeal.

Reports said Tommy would remain free until the appeal process was exhausted.

Mr Nudirman told the Indonesian Observer newspaper that the verdict "smells of politics".

Ricardo Gelael, a business associate of Tommy Suharto was also sentenced to 18 months.

In addition, Tommy was ordered to pay 30.6bn rupiah ($3.5m) in compensation to the state and Gelael 7.6bn rupiah ($873,563), according to the newsagency AFP.

The land deal involved a supermarket chain run by Tommy called PT Goro, and the state agency Bulog.

Bombing campaign

Earlier this month, President Abdurrahman Wahid ordered police to arrest Tommy Suharto following a number of bombings in Jakarta.

Tommy surrendered himself to police for questioning, but was released.

Police said they had insufficient evidence to charge him.

There has been speculation that the spate of bombings are connected to the continuing trial of Tommy's father.

The former president is accused of stealing at least $583m in government money to bankroll businesses controlled by his supporters and children, including Tommy.

Anti-corruption campaigners say they are collecting evidence of graft against the former president's other five children.