Legislators prevented from meeting Soeharto

JAKARTA (JP): A lawyer representing Soeharto was fuming on Friday after an unexpected visit by legislators to the former president's residence to question him about his alleged channeling of loans to certain banks.

Seven legislators from House of Representatives Commission IX for financial and development planning affairs traveled to Jl. Cendana in Central Jakarta in an attempt to meet with the former president.

Lawyer Juan Felix Tampubolon and Soeharto's daughter Siti Hardijanti Rukmana would not allow the legislators to meet with the 78-year-old former president, saying he was too ill.

Speaking to journalists later, Tampubolon questioned the legislators' persistence in attempting to meet with Soeharto, despite being informed by a medical team that "our client is unfit to undergo any clarification process or questioning".

"It has not been made up," he asserted.

The commission has summoned Soeharto to question him over possible abuses in channeling liquidity support from Bank Indonesia to local banks.

The House had ordered the Supreme Audit Agency and the Attorney General's Office to investigate the Rp 80 trillion allegedly improperly channeled when Soeharto was in office.

Soeharto's inability to travel to the House on Friday afternoon apparently prompted the legislators to make their unannounced visit on the former president.

Soeharto also failed to answer a summons from the Attorney General's Office on Monday. His lawyers said Soeharto was too ill to face questioning.

Tampubolon once again asserted on Friday his client's medical team had concluded that it was impossible for Soeharto to undergo questioning in his current condition.

"Bapak is incapable of communicating. He cannot get the substance of it," he said.

Tampubolon also lashed out at the legislators for their recklessness in attempting to meet with Soeharto.

"Who would take responsibility if something happened to his health as a result of the questioning," he asked.

Soeharto was hospitalized twice last year, once for a stroke and once for intestinal bleeding.

Tampubolon also contended that failing to question Soeharto would not hinder any investigation.

"The process can still continue by questioning witnesses or looking for evidence," he said. (01)