Ghalib vows to continue alleged corruption probe

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)