Ghalib rejects independent probe of Soeharto
Ghalib rejects independent probe of Soeharto
JAKARTA (JP): Attorney General Andi Muhammad Ghalib, who heads
a government probe into former president Soeharto's wealth, said
on Wednesday an independent investigation team would be
redundant.
"We don't need an independent team. What I need is a team of
experts to help me in carrying out (the job of the Attorney
General office)," Ghalib told reporters at the Bina Graha
presidential office before a Cabinet meeting on security and
political affairs.
Ghalib said the team of experts could help his office by
contributing input and suggestions.
Soeharto's hand-picked successor, President B.J. Habibie,
established an investigation team on Sept. 15 led by Ghalib and
assisted by the police and the Development and Finance
Comptroller to question Soeharto in person.
"I think the team is already capable of handling the case, so
there is no need for an independent team," Ghalib said.
The team's experts could be made up of academicians, legal
practitioners and experienced lawyers, he said.
Ghalib cited prominent lawyer Adnan Buyung Nasution as one of
the people he had contacted to join the team.
Buyung last week had called for the setting up of an
independent team to probe Soeharto's wealth.
Ghalib said on Friday that lawyer Todung Mulya Lubis of the
Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW) would also be contacted to join
the team of experts.
Todung, however, said on Tuesday that he had turned down the
offer because he wished to concentrate on collecting data and
information regarding corruption, collusion and nepotism during
the Soeharto era.
ICW was established in June to fight for the recovery of
assets amassed by the Soeharto family.
Soeharto, 77, evading accusations that he had allegedly
accumulated massive wealth while in office for 32 years, has
repeatedly denied holding "a single cent" in foreign accounts.
The former president, who stepped down on May 21 amid mounting
proreform protests, submitted two draft letters to the Attorney
General's Office on Friday that would empower the holder to open
any accounts in his name and seize any money found.
Estimates of the Soeharto family's wealth have ranged from
US$4 billion, as published by the U.S. magazine Forbes in July of
this year, to bolder estimates of $40 billion. (prb/byg)