Investigating Soeharto's wealth

Investigating Soeharto's wealth

The government, i.e. the Attorney General's office, has
started a probe into former president Soeharto's wealth, but I
think the method being used is very sluggish. Apparently the
government is not sufficiently serious about this matter. I would
propose the following for scrutiny of the matter:

a. An independent committee consisting of prominent figures
and experts from the community should assist the Attorney
General. The committee should be established by the President and
given legal authority.

b. The investigation into corruption, collusion and nepotism
(KKN), should start from below, i.e. from all projects connected
with Pertamina, Garuda, Bulog (National Logistics Agency), toll
roads, haj pilgrimage, forestry, purchase of state-owned
companies' shares, land and buildings, ownership of expansive
land like Jonggol. There must also be a probe into the granting
of low-interest loans by government banks. Scrutiny must also be
given to all presidential decisions and instructions which are
tainted by KKN (e.g. the tax exemption facility to PT Timor Putra
Nasional).

c. If the probe yields proof of corruption, to fulfill the
requirements of Law No.3 of 1971, a further investigation is
warranted. If need be, the party under suspicion should be
detained, not excepting Soeharto himself. The wealth of a suspect
should be confiscated and the defendant should have to prove the
origin of his wealth in accordance with Law No.3 of 1971. The
case should then be processed and brought to court.

The KKN probe also covers all state officials during
Soeharto's reign and all Soeharto's cronies, cum businessmen.

The probe should not be too difficult because there is still a
lot of proof around. If the investigation is deferred for too
long, it is possible that the proof will vanish from sight
because Soeharto's collaborators in the government still abound
and will try to come to Soeharto's defense.

The independent committee is needed to inspire confidence of
the people in the government.

SUHARSONO HADIKUSUMO

Jakarta