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)