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)