Soeharto protected corrupt aides: Brother

Soeharto protected corrupt aides: Brother

JAKARTA (JP): Businessman Probosutedjo described on Saturday
the methods his half-brother Soeharto used to protect corrupt
officials when he was still in power, blaming this practice for
the paralyzing economic crisis gripping the country today.

Probosutedjo, who was recently appointed chairman of a new
political party, Marhaenis Front Indonesian National Party (PNI
Front Marhaenis), made the statement at the party's headquarters
on Jl. Cikini Raya, Central Jakarta.

Probosutedjo was previously known as a loyal ally of his
brother, repeatedly vouching for the former president's innocence
in the face of corruption charges.

"Pak Harto always protected his corrupt underlings. Pak Harto
became upset if people criticized his men because he took it also
as a criticism against the person who appointed them, namely
himself," Probosutedjo was quoted by Antara as saying.

He claimed that "before the reform era" he had frequently
warned Soeharto to punish corrupt officials.

"What I received from him instead was months of cold
treatment. He even refused to speak to me when we met,"
Probosutedjo told hundreds of party members and supporters.

In his address, Probosutedjo also expressed his conviction
that Soeharto did not have any plans to return to the power arena
as some have speculated.

Probosutedjo insisted he did not consult Soeharto or his
children regarding his plan to join PNI Front Marhaenis.

Marhaenism was a term first coined in 1927 by founding
president Sukarno, who was inspired by a poor farmer called
Marhaen in Bandung.

Sukarno defined the Marhaenists as poor Indonesians who still
had production tools, and the Marhaenism as a revolutionary
movement based on nationalism, equality, humanity and
cooperation.

Sukarno turned it into the base of the original PNI that he
built in 1952.

Meanwhile, criminal law expert Barda Nawawi rejected on Friday
the suggestion that Soeharto be "punished symbolically" to
appease the public.

"If Pak Harto is guilty, then he must be punished, if he's
not, then he should not be punished, as a false punishment would
be a bad precedent for law enforcement here," Barda was quoted by
Antara as saying in Semarang, the capital of Central Java.

The Diponegoro University professor said that if Soeharto was
guilty, he should be punished, bearing in mind his services for
the country.

"Whether it meant a lighter sentence, leniency, an amnesty or
otherwise, they (the options) should be part of the court's
sentencing process," he said. "What's important is that the
investigation into him must be conducted in a transparent
manner." (swe)