Tommy is accused of ordering the killing while on the run

The two were sentenced to life imprisonment rather than the 14 years sought by prosecutors.

Some analysts had said earlier that the severity of their punishment could provide an indication of the fate of Tommy if he were found guilty.

Tommy is separately on trial accused of masterminding judge Syafiuddin Kartasasmita's murder. If convicted he faces the death penalty.

'Premeditated'

The assassination "shocked the people and law enforcers" as it was a "premeditated murder of a Supreme Court judge who then died in a tragic way," said chief judge Amiruddin Zakaria, who is also leading Tommy's trial.

Three witnesses testified that they saw the two convicted men leaving the scene of the killing with guns in their hands. The judge had been shot as he drove to work.

In a separate trial, the South Jakarta district court on Wednesday sentenced a third man, Dodi Harjito, to four years in prison for his involvement in planning the judge's murder.

Tommy is alleged to have hired the hit men while he was on the run from an 18-month prison sentence for corruption which the judge himself had imposed.

Tommy's trial

Tommy's trial was due to resume on Wednesday, but his team of lawyers refused to show up in protest at the detention of their colleague, Elza Syarief.

She was arrested on Monday over allegations she bribed witnesses to change their statements implicating Tommy.

Charges against Tommy Suharto

Premeditated murder Illegal possession of firearms Fleeing to avoid an 18 month conviction

Police say three security guards who testified in the trial have confessed to receiving two million rupiah ($213) each from Ms Syarief to change their statements in court.

They had initially identified Tommy as the owner of a cache of weapons found in a Jakarta apartment, but later told the court that police had intimidated them.

Tommy is the favourite son of former President Suharto, who stood down in 1998 amid mass riots and who himself has been accused of corruption but has been judged too ill to stand trial.