Ghalib vows to continue alleged corruption probe

JAKARTA (JP): Newly appointed Attorney General Lt. Gen. Muhammad Ghalib pledged yesterday to continue the probe into corruption during the rule of former president Soeharto.

"I will continue with what has been started," Ghalib told reporters shortly after being sworn in at the State Palace.

Ghalib was referring to a probe into Soeharto's wealth and other government corruption launched by his predecessor, Soedjono C. Atmonegoro.

Soedjono was removed from the position by President B.J. Habibie in a surprise move on Monday.

Ghalib said he would retain the special team appointed by Soedjono last week to investigate the wealth of current and former government officials.

"Essentially I intend to continue with all that's been started, and improve on it where necessary," he said.

Ghalib, a former head of the Armed Forces (ABRI) Prosecutor's Office and the ABRI Law Development Body, was also promoted to the rank of three-star general yesterday.

Public anxiety over Ghalib's integrity and independence as the country's top prosecutor was quickly calmed by Minister of Defense and Security/Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto, who said the Armed Forces Headquarters would not interfere with Ghalib's new position.

"I cannot interfere with the Attorney General's business, even though he holds a lower rank than I do," Wiranto told reporters after addressing the 160th anniversary of Bahrul Ulum Islamic Boarding School in Jombang, East Java.

He said Ghalib had the authority to work independently in accordance with the role an functions of the Attorney General's Office.

"Structurally he is not under the supervision of the Armed Forces Headquarters anymore," he said, adding that "I cannot give direct orders to him."

"Should I have to deal with him in the future, it would be for coordinating purposes only," he added.

Wiranto, however, said that Ghalib's rank, future promotions and retirement would still be decided by him in his capacity as Armed Forces Commander.

Tears

The transfer of duty ceremony at the Attorney General's Office in South Jakarta yesterday was full of emotion. Dozens of loyal members of staff wept as they shook hands with the outgoing Soedjono.

"Why?", a banner read.

The banner was put up on the wall by office staff while Ghalib was addressing an audience inside the building.

Lawyers are suspicious that the sudden dismissal of Soedjono may be linked to his investigation into corruption under Soeharto.

Soeharto, who stepped down under intense pressure on May 21, has hired a relatively unknown counsel, Johannes Yacob, to defend his interests.

Yacob has quoted Soeharto as saying that all the money he has is kept in local banks, and consists only of his salary and his pension.

Yacob, however, made no mention of the wealth accumulated by the Soeharto children, who between them have interests in hundreds of businesses ranging from oil and gas ventures, to real estate, plantations, toll roads and television stations. (prb/imn/byg)