BHM (Bambang, Halimah, Mayang) Story

First wife ambushes the younger one is usual on daily tale in Indonesia. But it's different if it done by Halimah Trihatmodjo. As national media give up-to-the-minute reports on the health condition of former president Soeharto, gossip rags and infotainment TV shows are feasting on a juicy piece of gossip involving one of his son's marital troubles.

Businessman Bambang Trihatmodjo's wife Halimah, accompanied by two of her children (Panji and Gendis), allegedly attacked the home of singer Mayangsari late Sunday in the exclusive Simprug area of South Jakarta.

Gossip columnists had long speculated on the relationship of Mayangsari and Bambang before compromising photographs reportedly showing the two were published in magazines and distributed over the Internet late last year. Mayangsari gave birth to a daughter by Bambang two months ago.

Eyewitnesses said Halimah arrived at the home at 11:30 p.m. with her son, daughter and four bodyguards and insisted to be let inside after seeing her husband's car parked outside. They then attempted to ram the gate with their vehicle, and someone from the group reportedly threw bottles at the house and broke several front windowpanes. Witnesses said that the incident lasted for half an hour.

"We have sent a summons to Halimah, her son and daughter as well as the four guards participating in the vandalism," said Sr. Comr. Williardi Wizard of the South Jakarta Police. But Soeharto family members refused comment on the incident as they accompanied their father at Pertamina Hospital in South Jakarta.

On Monday, infotainment shows broadcast footage of Halimah leaving Pertamina Hospital on Sunday after she visited her father-in-law on the eighth anniversary of his stepping down from power. She replied curtly to reporters as she got into her car.

The fallout of a bitter love triangle involving Soeharto's son has resulted in the daughter-in-law and two grandchildren of the former president being named suspects for willful destruction of property.

Things will potentially get worse as one of the grandchildren could be charged with assaulting his father.

Halimah, the wife of businessman Bambang Trihatmodjo, and their two children, Panji Adhikumoro and Gendis Siti Hatmanti, were declared suspects after a marathon 12-hour questioning.

Halimah, her children and an entourage, which included four bodyguards, allegedly attacked the home of singer Mayangsari late Sunday, in Simprug, South Jakarta. Gossip columnists had long speculated on the relationship of Mayangsari and Bambang.

The two have never denied rumors that Mayangsari's two-month old baby is Bambang's. Neither have they disputed claims they are secretly married.

Halimah and her two children have been charged with vandalism.

South Jakarta Police chief of investigations Comr. Suyudi said all three had been very cooperative during the investigation "so we have no reason to detain them".

Panji may also face assault charges for punching his father, who had rushed out of the house to calm Halimah down after she reportedly threw bottles and rammed her car into Mayangsari's front gate.

Officially neither Bambang nor Mayangsari have filed a police report over the incident.

Some have speculated Halimah is planning to divorce Bambang. As well as their extensive business dealings, the six Soeharto children were the subject of extensive gossip about reported affairs, feuds and material excesses during their father's 32-year rule.

However, in the days when the media was tightly controlled and before the proliferation of the gossip media, most of the stories remained hearsay. Now, learn, what a complex problems occur in the family after Mrs Tien Soeharto died.

The case is yet another unfortunate episode for the former first family, which comes as Soeharto is fighting for his life in the hospital.