No pardon for Tommy Suharto

Tommy Suharto faces an 18 month sentence

Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid has said he will not pardon the son of former President Suharto over a graft conviction.

Charges have been dropped against former President Suharto

Asked by reporters if he would grant clemency to Tommy Suharto, Mr Wahid replied: "No, no, no."

Mr Suharto appealed for a presidential pardon on Tuesday after being sentenced to 18 months for his role in a $10.8m property scam.

Mr Wahid's rejection of the younger Suharto's appeal for clemency is not a surprise.

He was a bit negligent in keeping a close eye on his directors

Bob Nasution, Suharto lawyer

The president had already strongly criticised last week's decision to dismiss the $570m graft case against the elder Mr Suharto.

He had also linked Tommy Suharto to a series of bombings in Jakarta.

Flamboyant

Tommy Suharto is the first member of the Suharto family to be convicted of corruption during his father's 32-year rule.

Doctors say strokes have left Mr Suharto brain damaged

The verdict by the Supreme Court, which surprised many, overturned an earlier ruling by a lower court which had acquitted him of corruption in the property deal.

Tommy Suharto, the most flamboyant of the Suharto children, lodged his clemency appeal with the Attorney General on Tuesday.

His lawyer Bob RE Nasution admitted his client had been "a bit negligent in keeping a close eye on his directors".

But he added: "As a citizen he asked for a pardon. Even God himself forgives his children who have made mistakes."

Mr Suharto's lawyers also requested that a court order that he pay 30 billion rupiah ($3.5m) in compensation to the state be dropped.

Violence

Jakarta remains on alert for violence from Suharto supporters.

Last week's decision to drop the $570m corruption case against the elder Suharto sparked violent clashes between pro and anti-Suharto protesters and police.

Judges dismissed the charges against the 79-year-old former president after ruling he was physically and mentally unfit to stand trial.

A series of bomb blasts had coincided with attempts to bring Mr Suharto to trial.

Mr Wahid has blamed the attacks on Suharto loyalists including Tommy.