Indonesian authorities "trying their best" to find Tommy Suharto

Senior cabinet minister Susilo Bambag Yudhoyono told a press conference that police were now taking "special measures" to apprehend Hutomo "Tommy" Mandal Putra, who has been in hiding since November 3.

A number of prominent political analysts have claimed the government was never serious about jailing Tommy Suharto, and instead want to broker a deal by which he would be pardoned if his family returned some of the 15 billion dollars they were alleged to have amassed during the ex-president's 32-year rule.

"They're trying their best to search for Tommy. I appeal to him to surrender and begin serving his prison sentence," Yudhoyono said. "Further steps are under way." Police have twice searched the posh homes of Tommy Suharto, his father, sisters and brothers, all of which are located next to each other in Jakarta's leafy Menteng district.

Authorities have also searched various locations across the country, including the resort islands of Bali, Lombok and Batam. Tommy Suharto went into hiding after President Abdurrahman Wahid rejected his appeal for a pardon from an 18-month prison sentence for corruption.

Negotiating by mobile phone via is attorneys, Tommy Suharto has demanded a private house in Jakarta's Cipinang prison, unlimited take-out food and personal bodyguards, claiming he had received threats of murder or sodomy once in jail. The government has rejected the demands as a pre-condition for the 38-year-old millionaire businessman to surrender.

"If Tommy has reason to feel insecure or unsafe, he should report this to police, rather than fleeing," Yudhoyono said. "It's difficult to accept that reason, for him to not immediately begin serving his prison sentence." He said Tommy Suharto could receive additional jail time for refusing to surrender.

Meanwhile, sources close to Suharto denied rumours Wednesday that the ailing ex-strongman had died or suffered a serious relapse. Suharto, 79, was on oxygen at his private residence after registering high blood pressure earlier this week. He had suffered two strokes last year, and his frail health prompted a Jakarta court to dismiss a separate corruption trial against him.

"It's not true that he is dead. It's just a rumour," said Suhendro, an assistant to Suharto's chief defence attorney, Juan Felix Tampubolon.

(la/dpa)