Marzuki insists that Soeharto attend trial
Marzuki insists that Soeharto attend trial
JAKARTA (JP): Attorney General Marzuki Darusman insisted on
Monday that former president Soeharto be present in court when
his corruption trial begins, possibly next month.
"If Soeharto cannot attend the trial because of illness or
other factors, then the trial will have to be delayed until he
can appear in court," Marzuki announced after a meeting with his
staff to discuss the Soeharto case.
Lawyers for the former president earlier warned that their 79-
year-old client was physically unfit to stand trial, saying he
has deteriorating speech capability. They said his illness would
render him incapable of defending himself effectively.
Marzuki has vowed to complete the dossier on the former tyrant
by Aug. 10 with the trial expected immediately afterward.
The Soeharto investigation is expected to feature prominently
in the progress report that President Abdurrahman Wahid will
present to the People's Consultative Assembly next month.
The investigation was slowed by Soeharto's illness but Marzuki
indicated on Monday that the government was well ahead of
schedule.
The team of prosecutors assigned to handle the case will soon
put the final touches on the dossier and the Attorney General's
Office will write up the formal indictment next week.
"We will make an announcement next week on the district court
selected to try the case, and the name of the prosecutor to
handle the case," he said.
The investigation has concentrated on how seven tax-free
charities chaired by Soeharto allegedly amassed massive wealth by
reportedly using privileges of the presidential office.
With little cooperation from Soeharto, the investigating team
has built its case based on testimony from more than 100 people,
including his children and cronies and Cabinet ministers who
served under him.
Marzuki also disclosed on Monday that his office had won
approval from several courts of law to seize idle assets
belonging to the charitable foundations.
"We will start the confiscation in the very near future," he
said. (bby)