Tommy Suharto rules out jail appeal

The scene on Thursday was in marked contrast to earlier this week when a smiling Tommy took to the prison's badminton court, looking completely at ease

JAKARTA, Indonesia (CNN) -- Tommy Suharto, the son of former Indonesian President Suharto, says he will not appeal his 15-year jail term for murder, claiming that although he is innocent of the charges he sees no point in appealing.

Hutomo Mandala Putra Suharto, known simply as "Tommy," told a news conference on Thursday at Jakarta's Cipinang jail that he was traumatized by his sentencing and while he will not appeal, he will make legal efforts to overturn his convictions when political conditions change.

Tommy was convicted last week by a Jakarta court for masterminding the killing of a supreme court judge, amongst other charges. He had until Friday to file an appeal and his lawyers had indicated when the sentence was handed down that they would likely lodge an appeal.

"Considering the situation which is disadvantageous for me as a seeker of justice, with a heavy heart I have decided to let the time for the appeal pass by," Reuters news agency quoted Tommy, the former playboy and stock car racer, as saying.

"I will find other legal efforts, taking into account the political situation in the country. The creation of public hatred against me is the doing of some people or a small group that wants to destroy me and my family."

Crucial test

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The trial was the most watched court case in Indonesia -- with the verdict seen as a crucial test of public confidence in Indonesia's tarnished legal system.

Tommy, 40, was accused of ordering the death of Supreme Court Judge Syafiuddin Kartasasmita, who sentenced him to 18 months in prison in 2000 for a multimillion-dollar real estate scam.

Prosecutors alleged that Tommy initially tried to overturn the corruption ruling by bribing the judge. When that failed, they say, Tommy ordered the judge's assassination.

Kartasasmita was gunned down by two men riding motorbikes. When the men were arrested, they claimed Tommy had paid them for the killing.

After being sentenced to time in jail for corruption, Tommy -- the youngest son of Indonesia's once powerful, now disgraced former ruler -- eluded police for more than a year with the help, he says, of crooked cops.

'A joke'

The verdict in Tommy's murder trial was broadcast live across Indonesia

The murder charge carried a maximum penalty of death, but prosecutors asked for a maximum sentence of 15 years -- a sentence so light, considering the charges, local media have called it a "joke."

U.N. investigator Param Cumaraswamy has described the trial as "one of the worst he has ever seen."

"There are serious problems and particularly allegations, widespread allegations of corruption in the system," he told CNN.

"But then the allegations of corruption must be seen in the light of similar allegations in the entire public administration."

Tommy's lawyers have also been accused of bribing witnesses. They deny all charges.

"If I were a prosecutor, I would have requested him to be punished severely and have the maximum penalty either life or death sentence. But they didn't," Harkristuti Harkrisnowo of the University of Indonesia, told CNN.

-- CNN correspondents Atika Shubert and Kathy Quiano contributed to this report