Ghalib ready to face Soeharto's lawyer<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Attorney General Lt. Gen. Andi M. Ghalib on
\nMonday challenged former president Soeharto's lawyer to provide
\nevidence proving his assertions that President B.J. Habibie and
\nhis Cabinet were involved in corrupt practices.<\/p>\n
Speaking to journalists before attending a Cabinet meeting at
\nBina Graha presidential office, Ghalib described Soeharto's
\nlawyer as lacking goodwill because he preferred to talk to the
\nmedia rather than the government.<\/p>\n
Asked about his readiness to face the lawyer, Ghalib
\nresponded: \"Oh, more than 1,000 percent.\"<\/p>\n
Lawyer Indriyanto Seno Adji said last week Soeharto would
\nreveal wrongdoing by Habibie and other senior government
\nofficials if the government continued its investigation into his
\nalleged ill-gotten wealth.<\/p>\n
Habibie is mandated by the People's Consultative Assembly
\n(MPR) to investigate Soeharto's wealth. Habibie has repeatedly
\npledged he would carry out the task wholeheartedly.<\/p>\n
Ghalib, widely criticized for a perceived timidity in taking
\nSoeharto to court, said it was natural for a lawyer to try to
\ndefend his client, but warned the public not to be provoked by
\nthe statement.<\/p>\n
\"We will enforce the law, although it may be very bitter. You
\nhave seen what I have done so far,\" he said.<\/p>\n
In Medan, three students continued their hunger strike for a
\nthird day on Monday to press their demand for Soeharto's trial.
\nThey said they would only stop their action when the former
\nleader was tried.<\/p>\n
\"We give a May 20 deadline to the government,\" the students
\nsaid in a statement.<\/p>\n
In Yogyakarta, Soeharto's half brother Probosutedjo also urged
\na prompt trial of the former president to show his innocence.<\/p>\n
\"I'm looking forward to hearing from the court that all the
\ncorruption charges are groundless,\" Probosutedjo said on the
\nsidelines of a ceremony to inaugurate the Yogyakarta branch of
\nthe Indonesian National Party (PNI) Marhaen. He is the party's
\nchairman.<\/p>\n
He said only a minority of Indonesians wanted Soeharto tried.<\/p>\n
Posh houses<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the Attorney General's Office confirmed reports
\nthat Soeharto's family possessed three mansions in London, all of
\nwhich are for sale.<\/p>\n
Spokesman Soehandojo said staff members at the Indonesian
\nEmbassy in London verified the reports. Minister of Foreign
\nAffairs Ali Alatas told Ghalib in a letter dated April 9 about
\nthe results of the investigation.<\/p>\n
According to the embassy, the houses are owned by Soeharto's
\nson Sigit Hardjojoedanto and his wife Elsye Hardjojoedanto and
\nProbosutedjo.<\/p>\n
Soehandojo quoted the London land registry as saying that a
\nhouse at 89 Winning Town Road was owned by Elsye since July 26,
\n1994, another at 8 Winning Town Road has belonged to Sigit since
\nFeb. 4, 1986, while a mansion located at 38A Northfolk House in
\nPuteney Hill has been registered under Probosutedjo's name since
\nAug. 23, 1977.<\/p>\n
The homes belonging to Sigit and Elsye are on the market by
\nreal estate agent John D. Wood and Co. for 1.95 million
\n(US$3.12 million) and 8.5 million ($13.6 million) respectively.
\nProbosutedjo's house is offered for 1.4 million ($2.24 million).<\/p>\n
Soehandojo said there had been no offers for the mansions.<\/p>\n
He added that the Attorney General's Office was extending its
\ninvestigation into other assets allegedly owned by Soeharto's
\nfamily.<\/p>\n
A scholar and staunch critic of Soeharto, George Junus
\nAditjondro, said in September that three of Soeharto's children
\n-- Sigit, Siti Hardijanti Rukmana and Siti Hediyati Prabowo --
\nand Probosutedjo owned five houses in London.<\/p>\n
Last month Ghalib played down media reports on the planned
\nsale of the three mansions, saying it was irrelevant to the
\ngovernment's investigation into Soeharto's wealth. (prb\/21\/44)<\/p>",
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