Progress on Soeharto probe to be revealed soon: Marzuki

Progress on Soeharto probe to be revealed soon: Marzuki

JAKARTA (JP): Attorney General Marzuki Darusman said on
Wednesday his office would report the latest developments in the
investigation of alleged corruption by former president Soeharto
within three days.

"Soeharto's case is not difficult and in a few days we will
give a clear explanation of it," Marzuki said during a seminar
here titled Indonesia's New Vision of a Pluralistic Society.

"We have discovered something that is principally wrong and if
it is settled there is a connection to politics," he said without
elaborating.

He added that the investigation would be completed within six
months.

The investigation of alleged corruption by Soeharto was
dropped by the Attorney General's Office in October due to a lack
of evidence.

Marzuki, who was appointed attorney general in October, vowed
to pursue the case further. However, when he reopened the
investigation, he conceded that "political dimensions" in the
case had to be taken into consideration.

He again stressed the political dimensions of the case on
Wednesday.

"The evaluation of the official letter dropping the
investigation was related to political issues because it had to
do with the official who issued the letter," he said during the
seminar hosted by Konrad Adenauer Stiffung and the Aachen Alumni
Association.

The attorney general said that because the Soeharto case had
been stagnant for so long, any progress in the investigation
would be welcomed by the public.

Nevertheless, he called on the public to remain patient
because a thorough investigation would take time.

He also said people should not assume Soeharto was guilty.
"People tend to believe that Soeharto is guilty; in legal terms
he could turn out to be guilty or innocent."

Marzuki pledged major cases such as the Soeharto investigation
and the Bank Bali scandal would be given priority because "they
will be the entry point for the government to regain the public's
trust".

When asked about President Abdurrahman Wahid's statement that
if Soeharto had illegally amassed wealth, he would prefer to have
the former president return the money and be given a pardon than
go to trial, Marzuki quipped: "That's political and up to the
President ... (but) we all know what Gus Dur is like".

Touching on life as a minister, Marzuki said certain
constellations of power existed within the Cabinet. He also said
many of his colleagues had yet to adjust to the new political
conditions in the country.

"The Indonesian Military has to adjust itself, particularly
the prominent figures."

Marzuki also revealed his plan to broaden the authority of the
Attorney General's Office by modifying the law which defines his
office's scope of authority.

He said he wanted the Attorney General's Office to be
responsible for both civilian and military courts. (04)