Probe into Soeharto's wealth 'to finish soon'

JAKARTA (JP): Attorney General A.M. Ghalib has said that the investigation into former president Soeharto's allegedly ill-gotten wealth is nearing completion.

Ghalib said here yesterday that the investigation was 70 percent complete and should be concluded within the next two months.

He admitted that when he assumed his post two months ago he promised to launch an investigation into Soeharto's wealth -- said to have been obtained through, among other things, his charitable foundations -- and finish it in four months.

"In time, the Attorney General's Office will announce the results of the investigation into where the foundations obtained their funds and to where they then channeled them," Ghalib said.

He said he had received "very thick" documents relating to the Supersemar, Dharmais, Dakab and Dana Swadaya Mandiri foundations, all of which were led by Soeharto. He said it would take the office "months" to study the documents.

On Saturday, Baharuddin Lopa, the secretary-general of the National Commission on Human Rights, said from Ujungpandang in South Sulawesi that the government should take immediate action so as not to allow Soeharto time to hide his wealth in foreign banks.

He also said it would be difficult for a court to determine if Soeharto was guilty or not if the government was reluctant to allow an investigation of him to proceed without delay.

An investigation into Soeharto would show the public that everyone, including ex-presidents, are equal before the law. "It would also serve as a lesson to future and present leaders and perhaps discourage them from breaking the law," he said.

Lopa also urged an investigation into the wealth of ministers and officials who served under Soeharto.

Speaking on the sidelines of a seminar in Ujungpandang, Lopa said he was disappointed at the lack of action taken by President B.J. Habibie's government on the matter.

Since his resignation in May many groups in society have been demanding the government investigate the wealth of Soeharto and his family, which they allege was obtained through corrupt, collusive and nepotistic practices. (37/prb/rms)