Soeharto's game<\/p>\n
As a part of his modesty campaign, former president Soeharto
\ninvited himself to the Attorney General's Office on Friday.<\/p>\n
During the meeting with Attorney General Andi Muhammad Ghalib,
\nSoeharto handed a letter authorizing government investigators to
\nprobe into any bank account under his name overseas.<\/p>\n
Soeharto, who is facing a government investigation into his
\nwealth, which is believed to have been illegally amassed through
\ncorruption during his 32 years of iron-hand rule, had earlier
\nclaimed that he did not have \"even one cent\" hoarded abroad.<\/p>\n
His claim has been greeted with disbelief by the people here,
\nwho have long accused him of illegally enriching himself and of
\nhiding millions of dollars in foreign bank accounts. They also
\nbelieve he has abused his power to enrich his family and cronies,
\nwho have built huge business empires under his patronage.<\/p>\n
It is not hard to support this belief because the newly rich
\npeople have shamelessly flaunted their wealth in view of the poor
\nmasses. Some analysts, both at home and abroad, have estimated
\nhis family's total wealth at up to US$40 billion.<\/p>\n
Commenting on Soeharto's Friday visit to the Attorney
\nGeneral's visit, some law experts said that it has no legal
\nimpact whatsoever. Combined with Ghalib's visit to Soeharto at
\nhis residence on Monday evening last week, the whole game now
\nappears like an unfamiliar demonstration of the authorities'
\ndisrespect of the principle of equal justice under the law.<\/p>\n
This is a part of the public belief that the administration of
\nPresident B. J. Habibie, who is Soeharto's former long-time
\ndisciple and trusted second man, has neither the guts nor
\npolitical will to examine the former strongman's alleged
\ncorruption.<\/p>\n
Soeharto, who has repeatedly challenged Habibie's
\nadministration regarding the probe, looks extremely self-
\nconfident lately. He seems to have learned well from other
\ncorrupt despots on how to avoid investigation.<\/p>\n
He handed the letter of authority to the attorney general on
\nFriday because he is convinced that from a technical point of
\nview, it is not easy to pierce bank secrecy. In Indonesia, this
\ncan only be done with the written permission of minister of
\nfinance for the probe of a criminal case.<\/p>\n
According to the law, the minister will only give a green
\nlight at the behest of either the national police chief, the
\nattorney general or the chief justice.<\/p>\n
Foreign banks can be expected to impose stricter rules in this
\ncase because any signs of leniency or carelessness could be
\nsuicidal. It is for this reason that many corrupt dictators have
\nescaped unhurt after they have relinquished their power.<\/p>\n
If the authorities here are sincere in this antigraft drive
\nthere is no other effective way than setting up a completely
\nindependent body, armed with a special law passed by the House of
\nRepresentatives, to probe the case. This body can start its
\noperation by questioning Soeharto on how he has enriched himself,
\nhis children and cronies.<\/p>\n
To obtain solid proof, the body should also investigate all
\nSoeharto's abuses of power, scrutinize all decrees and covert
\norders he made during his rule to facilitate special treatments
\nfor his children and cronies.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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