Sad and full of contempt - this is how Komalawati Sasmitaat Madja feels about the 'injustice' which she claims has been done to her brother Sukma Darmawan Sasmitaat Madja.

The former Indonesian national and a businessman is serving a six-year jail term for two-sodomy related charges involving former Malaysian deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim

In an interview with malaysiakini yesterday, Komalawati talked about how she has coped with the circumstances surrounding Sukma's conviction.

'No confidence'

Komalawati, 52, said her brother would not have been abused by people whom she described as "political players" if he had not acquired Malaysian citizenship.

Stressing that her family has never blamed Anwar or his family for Sukma's misfortune, she said their o­nly regret is that Sukma is no longer an Indonesian national.

"If he had remained an Indonesian, I am sure that things would not have gone this badly for him. I believe that the Indonesian government would have gone to great lengths to save him," said the homemaker and mother of four, who is currently in Malaysia.

"I have tried to seek help from my government. The leaders told me that they do not believe Anwar and Sukma are guilty of the charges. But they said little could be done as Sukma is now a Malaysian."

Komalawati said that Indonesians generally do not believe there is any truth to the charges against Anwar and Sukma, and have no confidence in the judicial decisions to convict them of the offence.

"They (Indonesians) have condemned the (Malaysian) government for persecuting Anwar and Sukma. They feel that this country is undemocratic....where people are barred from speaking out against injustice," she said.

"People in Indonesia believe that Anwar is a religious man...his faith has never been questioned. He had good relations with respected religious figures in Indonesia. They support his cause 100 percent."

She said internal political turbulence in Indonesia has forced the Anwar issue to be put o­n the back burner for the moment, but human rights champions and student activists have not forgotten him.

Komalawati arrived in Malaysia as soon as she heard that Sukma's bail had been revoked when the Court of Appeal dismissed his and Anwar's appeals against their convictions and sentences.

Anwar and Sukma have since applied fresh applications for bail and stay of execution which will be heard at the Court of Appeal o­n Friday.

Sukma 'won't run'

Interviewed at Sukma's apartment in Bangsar, Komalawati said there was no doubt that her brother had been used and abused by the country's political masters to topple Anwar.

"Sukma is a victim of the political game here. I am sad, disappointed and angry at seeing my brother's condition.

"He had harmed no o­ne and was never involved in politics in Malaysia. Yet, he has been made a sacrificial tool to topple Anwar," she said.

She claimed that Sukma was subjected to torture during his two-week remand in September 1998, and that his suffering continues.

"He wants to go home...to be with his family in Indonesia but he can't. The fact that he is a Malaysian citizen makes it even more difficult. He can't even visit our sick mother who longs to see him," she said.

Asked if the family had considered asking Sukma to seek refuge in Indonesia, she said her brother would have never agreed to the idea.

"He doesn't want to be o­n the run. He doesn't want to be an illegal. He feels o­nly the guilty would run. So if he runs, it would be like admitting guilt. That would not o­nly be unjust to himself but also to Anwar," she explained.

'False admissions'

Looking back at the events of 1998, Komalawati said her worst fears for Sukma's safety came true when he pleaded guilty to allowing Anwar to sodomise him, and was then sentenced to six months' jail.

She came to Malaysia soon after and managed to meet Sukma at the Bukit Aman federal police headquarters, in the presence of investigating officer SAC I Musa Hassan.

"I could see that Sukma was in fear. We spoke in Sunda (an Indonesian local dialect) and he told me that he had given the police what they wanted to stop the torture. He told me that he had made false admission because he could not stand it," she said.

Asked about Musa's reaction during that meeting, Komalawati responded with sarcasm: "Oh, he was very nice. He made tea for me and Sukma as if it there was nothing wrong.

"He told me not to worry and now that Sukma had pleaded guilty, he could probably return home to Indonesia within three months.

"I replied that Sukma's return home would not mean that he is guilty. I confronted him about my brother being tortured and spoke with so much anger that Sukma warned me not to incur the wrath of the police...he told me to keep silent. He did not want me to get into trouble."

Link to Anwar

Asked about Sukma's background, she said their late father had sent her brother to Malaysia in 1976 when he was about 15.

She said her father was impressed with what Anwar's father had to say about the Islamic environment in Malaysia and in particular, Anwar's efforts in running a private school, Yayasan Anda.

"My father was a long-time friend of Anwar's father and he decided to put Sukma in Haji Ibrahim's care to provide my brother with the religious education that he needed," she said.

Komalawati said Sukma stayed with Anwar's father until the early 1980s when he completed his sixth form examination. He was then asked to help Anwar and his wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who was pursuing her studies in medicine.

"Haji Ibrahim asked Sukma to help Anwar's wife to take of the children as she needed to continue her studies. That was when he started staying with Anwar and his family," she recounted.

Sukma then started a small trading company with his schoolmates until 1991, when he saw the business pick up.

"He was very committed to making his business a success. He was in all kinds of businesses, mainly interior design. We are proud of his achievements," she said, adding that Sukma had to close all his business ventures after his arrest.

Asked if Sukma would be able to face the challenges ahead, Komalawati said her brother's strength should not be underestimated.

She said: "I met him (at the Kajang prison) recently. He was strong...stronger than I was. I felt sad, disappointed and full of contempt (over what has happened to him).

"He said this is all a sandiwara (charade) and advised me to be strong. I think everything that has happened had made him stronger and more patient. Maybe he has learnt something from Anwar who has been ill in jail.

"But I will not accept this quietly. I will fight to the end so that my brother gets the justice that is due to him."