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.