New Zealand details assets of Soeharto and his family

New Zealand details assets of Soeharto and his family

WELLINGTON (Agencies): New Zealand Foreign Minister Phil Goff on Friday sent Jakarta a list of assets held by former Indonesian president Soeharto and his family in New Zealand.

The list was sent to Indonesia's Attorney General Marzuki Darusman and included a multi-million dollar alpine lodge, Lilybank Station.

Lilybank in the South Island was owned by one of Soeharto's six children, youngest son Hutomo Mandala Putra. But it was sold to a Singaporean last year for NZ$1 (50 U.S. cents).

Another two holiday homes near Queenstown were previously owned by Soeharto's daughter, Siti Hediati Hariyadi.

Indonesia is investigating Soeharto's interests outside of Indonesia.

In a statement Goff said known assets formerly held in New Zealand by Soeharto and his family were small in relation to the estimated US$8 billion thought to have been pocketed by Soeharto's family.

"However, handing over what we know about Soeharto's holdings in New Zealand may assist the Indonesian authorities to bring to account those responsible," said Goff.

"The need to bring those people to justice is an important step in eliminating the almost endemic corruption in the country. This was a recurring theme mentioned by senior ministers during my visit to Indonesia last week.

"President Wahid himself listed corruption as Indonesia's most critical problem when I met with him."

Goff said the current Indonesian government had made genuine efforts to implement reform.

"This material may help Indonesia better establish whether the money to purchase these assets was obtained legally. If the Indonesian authorities believe a crime has been committed, we will look into the matter under New Zealand's Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act," said Goff.