Tue, 18 Jul 2000

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)