Government may suspend investigation into Soeharto's wealth

Government may suspend investigation into Soeharto's wealth

JAKARTA (JP): The government suggested on Wednesday the
investigation into the alleged corruption of ailing former
president Soeharto would be suspended due to lack of evidence.

"We are going to look at it until the end, but if the evidence
for a trial is incomplete, (the investigation) will not be pushed
(by making Soeharto a suspect); we have to respect (his) human
rights and the principle of presumption of innocence," Minister
of Justice Muladi said.

He made the comments after meeting on Wednesday with acting
Attorney General Ismudjoko and Coordinating Minister for
Development Supervision and State Administrative Reforms Hartarto
Sastrosoenarto at the latter's office.

Muladi said earlier that the meeting was aimed at "analyzing"
the investigation, which was first initiated in June last year
and was reinforced by a decree of the People's Consultative
Assembly (MPR) in November.

"There must be a legal certainty for Soeharto and his family
whether the investigation could be stepped up or not; (his legal
status) must be clear, especially in regard to Soeharto's health
condition," Muladi said.

Soeharto was rushed on Saturday to Pertamina Hospital with
intestinal bleeding, less than a month after hospitalization for
a mild stroke.

Muladi said the evaluation was scheduled to be completed
within a week, and that the report would be presented to
President B.J. Habibie.

"The President will then make a decision, and the decision
will underpin his accountability speech (in the next general
session of the MPR)."

Muladi's remarks followed comments made by Habibie in his
state of the nation address on Monday that in eradicating
corruption, the government could not rush the process,
"especially if the evidence for a trial is incomplete and
unconvincing".

The government has been under mounting pressure to speed up
the probe by making Soeharto a suspect, not only a witness, in
the alleged corruption.

However, the Attorney General's Office, which is leading the
investigation, said it did not have sufficient evidence to name
Soeharto as a suspect.

Earlier this year, Soeharto's lawyers filed legal papers with
the Attorney General's Office demanding that the inquiry into the
former strongman be stopped.

The United States-based Time magazine disclosed in May that
the former president and his children amassed a US$15 billion
fortune during his rule.

Soeharto, however, has consistently denied amassing a fortune
during his 32 years in power. (byg)