No 'chickens' found yet in Soeharto probe: Ghalib

No 'chickens' found yet in Soeharto probe: Ghalib

JAKARTA (JP): Attorney General Lt. Gen. Andi Muhammad Ghalib
has compared the investigation of former president Soeharto's
wealth to the investigation of a chicken theft where the police
have to find strong evidence before they can make any arrests.

"Police have to ask where the chickens are, because how can
someone be accused of stealing chickens when the stolen chickens
are nowhere to be found," Ghalib said in Mataram, West Nusa
Tenggara, as quoted by Antara.

Ghalib did not explain what the police would do if the thief
has slaughtered the chicken. Ghalib insisted that his office was
"very serious" about investigating the wealth of former president
Soeharto but hinted that he was still unable to find any evidence
that Soeharto committed any crime.

"What is the basis for making Soeharto a suspect?" he said
after swearing in Endang Supardi Naharasaputra as the head of the
West Nusa Tenggara prosecutor's office.

Endang replaces R. Himawan.

President B.J. Habibie has assigned Ghalib to lead the
government's efforts to uncover Soeharto's wealth both here and
abroad.

Many people believe that Soeharto and his children have huge
overseas bank deposits.

On Sept. 26, Soeharto himself went to Ghalib's office to hand
over a list of his belongings.

Ghalib sparked a public outcry when he said recently that
people should believe Soeharto's claim that he does not have any
money abroad.

"If any one has the courage to say that Soeharto is a suspect,
they must produce evidence," Ghalib asserted on Thursday.

Ghalib also commented on several presidential decrees signed
by Soeharto during his 32-year tenure. Habibie has canceled a
number of decrees because they were the source of collusion,
corruption and nepotism.

State oil and gas company Pertamina announced last week that
it would scrap 159 deals made with Soeharto's children and
cronies.

However, Ghalib hinted that the spirit of the decrees was
actually "noble" in their intention but had manipulated to serve
other ends.

"Do not blame the president (Soeharto)," Ghalib noted.

He dismissed allegations that he did not have the guts to take
tough measures against Soeharto because he was a Soeharto man.

"I am not a Cendana man, I was not appointed by Pak Harto,"
Ghalib said referring to Soeharto's residence on Jl. Cendana in
Central Jakarta.

Habibie installed Ghalib as Attorney General shortly after he
replaced Soeharto in May.

Ghalib also urged people to help the government trace
Soeharto's wealth and provide the investigation team with any
evidence which they possess.

"The security and safety of people who have any information
about the former president's riches will be guaranteed as long as
the information is truthful," Ghalib said. (prb)