Prosecutors seize documents from Soeharto foundation<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Attorney General's Office began on Thursday
\nthe unprecedented seizure of documents believed to contain
\ninformation on assets allegedly illegally amassed by former
\npresident Soeharto.<\/p>\n
Five state prosecutors confiscated documents concerning the
\nactivities of the Supersemar Foundation, one of seven tax-free
\ncharitable foundations set up by Soeharto during his 32-year
\nrule. All the foundations retained offices at the Granadi
\nbuilding, which they own, in South Jakarta's main business
\ndistrict.<\/p>\n
The team was led by the newly installed director of
\ninvestigation at the office, Ris Pandapotan Sihombing, and
\ncomprised Poerwanto, Patuan Siahaan, Ferry Silalahi and
\nSuriansyah.<\/p>\n
Spokesman for the Attorney General's Office Yushar Yahya said
\nthe documents would be used to verify testimony from witnesses
\nconcerning graft and abuse of power allegedly committed by
\nSoeharto.<\/p>\n
\"We started with the Supersemar documents because our
\ninvestigation into it is nearly complete. The seizure of articles
\nof other foundations will follow,\" he told a media briefing at
\nhis office.<\/p>\n
Soeharto has been named a suspect for issuing decrees and
\ngovernment regulations to amass funds through the foundations.<\/p>\n
The seizure was conducted following approval issued on Tuesday
\nby the South Jakarta District Court.<\/p>\n
Ris told journalists waiting outside the foundation's office
\non the building's fourth floor that his team confiscated \"a lot
\nof documents\" needed as evidence.<\/p>\n
He added the foundation would remain operational despite the
\nseizure.<\/p>\n
Lawyers for three of Soeharto's foundations -- Supersemar,
\nDharmais and Dana Karya Abadi -- contended the measure violated
\nthe law.<\/p>\n
However, they let the prosecutors proceed. \"Since this is
\nconducted in the interest of the state, then go ahead,\" one of
\nthe lawyers, Syamsul Hadi, said.<\/p>\n
Separately, Antonius Sujata, a former state prosecutor who
\ninvestigated Soeharto's alleged graft in 1998, speculated that
\nthe Attorney General's Office was relatively slow in seizing the
\nfoundations' assets because it was weighing possible legal
\nconsequences.<\/p>\n
\"It's likely they are just being prudent,\" Antonius, who now
\nchairs the National Ombudsman Council, said at his office on
\nThursday. (01)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/prosecutors-seize-documents-from-soeharto-foundation-1447893297",
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