Investigation into Soeharto's fortune to proceed, says Muladi
JAKARTA (JP): A government investigation into alleged corruption involving former president Soeharto, his family and cronies will continue despite Soeharto's ill health, Minister of Justice/State Secretary Muladi suggested on Friday.
Speaking on the sidelines of a hearing with the House of Representatives (DPR), the minister expressed confidence the investigation would be fruitful. He said the Austrian and Swiss governments had pledged to intensify their search for the former president's wealth, reportedly stashed away in bank accounts in the two countries.
"Soeharto's case will be tried before the General Session of the next People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) and President Habibie will deliver his account of the investigation into Soeharto's case before the Assembly," he said.
Acting Attorney General Ismudjoko sparked controversy on Thursday when he said his office would temporarily suspend inquiries concerning the ailing former president.
Ismudjoko said investigations would only be resumed once Soeharto had completely recovered from the mild stroke. He also said the inquiry would be aborted if he should suddenly die.
"Even a prisoner, if he becomes sick, is treated well. Moreover, this is a former president," Ismudjoko said.
In a related matter, Soeharto's defense lawyers said the ongoing investigation should be called off, because there was not enough evidence to prove the allegation.
Lawyer Juan Felix Tampubolon said the acquittal of Soeharto should not be based on feelings of sympathy because the former president was sick. "It's out of proportion."
Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) chairman Abdurrahman Wahid proposed the establishment of a five-member team to investigate Soeharto's wealth, a team which would include two representatives from the Soeharto family.
"Its main goal would be to uncover Soeharto's wealth," he said.
On Friday afternoon, President B.J. Habibie summoned Ismudjoko and three doctors treating Soeharto to the State Guest House. During the meeting, the President was accompanied by his three coordinating ministers: Hartarto, Ginandjar Kartasasmita and Haryono Suyono.
Chief of the presidential team of doctors, Ibrahim Ginting, said Habibie summoned the team because he wanted to obtain first hand information about Soeharto's condition.
"In general, his condition is improving," Ginting said at a media briefing following the meeting.
Soeharto and his six children have vetoed any move by Habibie to visit his former mentor.
Palace officials conceded the former first family had rejected the President as they believed he had betrayed them.
"The President is very concerned about Pak Harto's condition, and he is very eager to visit him," one official said on Friday.
The official recalled how Habibie, as state minister of research and technology, led a team in July 1996 to arrange Soeharto's medical check up at a German cardiac hospital.
A government source said on Friday the current situation of former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet was an important factor behind the Soeharto family's decision not to seek medical treatment abroad.
While on a London health visit last October, Pinochet was arrested on a Spanish warrant which charged him with human rights violations during his 1973 to 1990 regime.
"The family is traumatized about Pinochet's case," a source told The Jakarta Post.
Meanwhile, Pertamina Hospital said Soeharto was suffering "problems" with the functioning of his right hand and right foot, and that he was undergoing physiotherapy.
"The function of the former president's right hand and right foot is nearly back to normal after some physiotherapy sessions," hospital director Sudjono Martoatmodjo said on Friday.
Sudjono earlier said his VIP patient had a blood clot in a blood vessel in the brain, which affected the functioning of his right hand and foot.
"Normally, patients who have suffered a mild stroke can go home after two weeks of treatment, and after that the patients continue the physiotherapy at home," he said.
In Ujungpandang, 60 students from Ujungpandang's Institute for Teachers' Training (IKIP) held a mass prayer on Friday at the campus' mosque. They were praying for a speedy recovery for the former president.
Iswari Al-Faridzi, who led the prayer, said a fit and healthy Soeharto was needed for the investigation of his abuses of power during his 32-year tenure.
Flowers and sympathy cards though, continued to arrive at the hospital. Antara reported that hospital visitors looted on Friday about 100 bouquets of flowers intended for Soeharto just after the truck arrived in the hospital grounds. (03/27/asa/emf/imn/prb)