Soeharto ready to face probe<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Former president Soeharto, the target of a new
\ngovernment corruption probe, said on Friday that he is ready to
\nface questioning, but he also pleaded for the public to stop
\ncondemning him and his family.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Attorney General Lt. Gen. Andi Muhammad Ghalib, who
\nwas ordered by President B.J. Habibie to launch the
\ninvestigation, disclosed that a summons had been sent to
\nSoeharto's residence and questioning would begin next week.<\/p>\n
In the first public comments by Soeharto since students
\nstepped up their pressure on the government to open the inquiry
\ninto his alleged wealth a few months ago, Soeharto said he was
\nnot above the law.<\/p>\n
\"This is not a challenge. I realize that as an Indonesian
\ncitizen, I cannot free myself from my legal obligations. But
\nevery one should know that this is a state based on law, and
\nevery citizen is entitled to legal protections,\" he told visiting
\nexecutives of a publication belonging to his Dharmais foundation.<\/p>\n
His remarks were made public by the executives.<\/p>\n
Soeharto disclosed that he had Rp 22 billion ($3 million)
\ndeposited in three banks, not Rp 72 billion as the government had
\nearlier claimed, and that his personal property includes two
\nhouses in Jakarta and five hectares of land, including the one in
\nSurakarta in Central Java.<\/p>\n
He said the money was saved from his salaries and pensions
\nfrom his time in the Armed Forces and his 32 years as president,
\nas well as his official travel allowances, dollar-denominated
\nrentals of two houses in Jakarta -- one in Menteng and another in
\nRawamangun -- plus the interest earned on these bank deposits.<\/p>\n
He hastily added that both houses, which were rented to
\nforeigners, were purchased before he became president in 1966.<\/p>\n
All other property belonged to the charity foundations which
\nhe chaired, he said.<\/p>\n
This week, Soeharto handed over the assets of the seven
\nfoundations, worth a total of Rp 4 trillion, to the government.<\/p>\n
According to official records, Soeharto's last monthly salary
\nas president was Rp 15 million, while his pension was slightly
\nlower.<\/p>\n
In July, Soeharto turned down Habibie's offer of Rp 26.5
\nbillion for a house he was legally entitled to as a former
\npresident when news of the offer stirred a public outcry.<\/p>\n
Soeharto said that he hoped every one could look at the issue
\nregarding him and his family with a clear conscience. He added
\nthat he remained steadfast in facing the public condemnations.<\/p>\n
When asked about students' attempts to protest at his Jl.
\nCendana residence, Soeharto said that they would be better off
\nprotesting at the House of Representatives building. \"Not here,
\nthey won't find anything. I have abdicated,\" he said, using the
\nterm he often uses to refer to his decision to step down on May
\n21 in the face of massive student protests.<\/p>\n
Soeharto said that at least 22 lawyers have offered their
\nservices to help defend him in the investigation. They include
\nnotable names like O.C. Kaligis, Minangwarman and Adnan Buyung
\nNasution. He said that he would contact them if and when he
\nneeded them. \"But I will only need several lawyers, not all of
\nthem.\"<\/p>\n
Pressure<\/p>\n
President Habibie, reacting to mounting public pressure,
\nissued a decree on Thursday ordering Ghalib to investigate
\nSoeharto on charges of alleged corruption, collusion and
\nnepotism. The decree also stipulated the need to uphold the
\nprinciple of the presumption of innocence.<\/p>\n
But while the decree was very wide in scope, Ghalib appeared
\nto focus on the Rp 22 billion in bank accounts under Soeharto's
\nname that his office has been able to uncover so far.<\/p>\n
Ghalib said that Soeharto's accounts were found at a BCA
\nbranch in Asemka, the Kebon Sirih branch of BBD, at Bank
\nMuamalat, Bank Tabungan Negara and the little know Bank Pesona.<\/p>\n
Soeharto said that he has bank accounts only at BCA, BBD and
\nBRI.<\/p>\n
\"I have sent a letter this afternoon directly to his
\n(Soeharto's) residence on Jl. Cendana,\" Ghalib told journalists
\nat his office, contradicting a statement he made earlier in the
\nmorning that he was planning to send the letter some time next
\nweek.<\/p>\n
When asked whether he had enough evidence to place Soeharto
\nunder arrest, Ghalib replied, \"We must proceed carefully. This is
\na big and interesting affair.\"<\/p>\n
Minister\/State Secretary Akbar Tandjung said Ghalib could put
\nSoeharto under house arrest if it was deemed necessary.<\/p>\n
\"We leave it entirely to the Attorney General to decide on the
\nmost appropriate and effective steps to take to implement the
\npresidential instruction,\" Akbar said.<\/p>\n
Some political observers on Friday expressed doubts about the
\nseriousness of the government's investigation, in spite of
\nHabibie's decree.<\/p>\n
Arbi Sanit of the University of Indonesia said the decree was
\nmerely a move to placate critics.<\/p>\n
\"I have always doubted the government's sincerity in launching
\nsuch an investigation. They were never serious with their
\nstatements,\" Arbi told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
He said that Habibie knew that if the investigation reached
\nthe courts, there would be a devastating backlash against the
\nwhole government.<\/p>\n
Acting chairman of Muhammadiyah Syafii Ma'arif said he did not
\nbelieve Habibie had the political will to probe his one-time
\nmentor. \"The psychological barrier is too big,\" Syafii said in
\nYogyakarta.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, acting chairman of the Association of Moslem
\nScholars, Ahmad Tirtosudiro, said, \"The presidential decree is
\nproof that he (President B.J. Habibie) does have the guts to
\ninvestigate Soeharto contrary to widespread allegations.\"
\n(prb\/imn\/44\/emb)<\/p>",
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