Little progress made in Soeharto investigation<\/p>\n
SEMARANG, Central Java (JP): A promise made, a promise broken.
\nOnce again the government has came up short in its vow to unveil
\nthe progress of its eight-month old investigation into alleged
\ncorruption by former president Soeharto.<\/p>\n
Acting Attorney General Ismudjoko over the weekend repeated
\nthe same words: \"The investigation is ongoing\".<\/p>\n
The government had again promised that it would disclose the
\nresults of the investigation over the weekend.<\/p>\n
\"I have ordered the attorney general to announce very soon the
\nresults of the investigation and the legal status of the former
\npresident,\" President B.J. Habibie said on Friday.<\/p>\n
\"Within the next two days,\" Minister of Justice\/State
\nSecretary Muladi later added, backing up Habibie's order.<\/p>\n
However, what was disclosed here on Saturday was no more a
\nrevelation than it was when the investigation started.<\/p>\n
\"But I've instructed the special prosecutor to start
\nexaminations, particularly on witnesses first, so there will be
\nsome legal certainty in the investigation,\" Ismudjoko said,
\ntrying to convince skeptical journalists that progress was being
\nmade.<\/p>\n
He quickly added that there was some indication of impropriety
\nin relation to foundations chaired by Soeharto in that some of
\nthe funds meant for social activities appeared to have been
\nredirected for business purposes.<\/p>\n
\"We have to look into this much further though,\" said
\nIsmudjoko, who was here to inaugurate Suwarsono as the head of
\nthe Central Java Prosecutor's Office.<\/p>\n
Despite growing public impatience, the government has failed
\nto make progress in uncovering alleged instances of corruption by
\nthe 78-year-old former president during his three decades of
\npower.<\/p>\n
The probe into Soeharto was initiated in June last year and
\nlater reinforced by a decree of the People's Consultative
\nAssembly (MPR) in November.<\/p>\n
Two separate investigations are actually being conducted: by
\nthe Attorney General's Office and by the Ministry of Development
\nSupervision and State Administrative Reforms. Neither has
\nproduced tangible public reports either confirming or disproving
\nthe allegations.<\/p>\n
Despite repeated pledges by Habibie, critics doubt the
\npresident would earnestly attempt to bring the man he once called
\n\"a genius\" to justice.<\/p>\n
Ismudjoko, who took over from suspended attorney general Andi
\nM. Ghalib in June, denied any foot-dragging in the investigation
\ndue to political pressure.<\/p>\n
\"The investigation into the former president is in no way
\ninfluenced by political interests. I'm strictly conducting
\naffairs based on the legal perspective.\"<\/p>\n
Ismudjoko would not say when more progress in the
\ninvestigation would be revealed. (har)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/little-progress-made-in-soeharto-investigation-1447893297",
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