Soeharto ready to face probe

Soeharto ready to face probe

JAKARTA (JP): Former president Soeharto, the target of a new
government corruption probe, said on Friday that he is ready to
face questioning, but he also pleaded for the public to stop
condemning him and his family.

Meanwhile, Attorney General Lt. Gen. Andi Muhammad Ghalib, who
was ordered by President B.J. Habibie to launch the
investigation, disclosed that a summons had been sent to
Soeharto's residence and questioning would begin next week.

In the first public comments by Soeharto since students
stepped up their pressure on the government to open the inquiry
into his alleged wealth a few months ago, Soeharto said he was
not above the law.

"This is not a challenge. I realize that as an Indonesian
citizen, I cannot free myself from my legal obligations. But
every one should know that this is a state based on law, and
every citizen is entitled to legal protections," he told visiting
executives of a publication belonging to his Dharmais foundation.

His remarks were made public by the executives.

Soeharto disclosed that he had Rp 22 billion ($3 million)
deposited in three banks, not Rp 72 billion as the government had
earlier claimed, and that his personal property includes two
houses in Jakarta and five hectares of land, including the one in
Surakarta in Central Java.

He said the money was saved from his salaries and pensions
from his time in the Armed Forces and his 32 years as president,
as well as his official travel allowances, dollar-denominated
rentals of two houses in Jakarta -- one in Menteng and another in
Rawamangun -- plus the interest earned on these bank deposits.

He hastily added that both houses, which were rented to
foreigners, were purchased before he became president in 1966.

All other property belonged to the charity foundations which
he chaired, he said.

This week, Soeharto handed over the assets of the seven
foundations, worth a total of Rp 4 trillion, to the government.

According to official records, Soeharto's last monthly salary
as president was Rp 15 million, while his pension was slightly
lower.

In July, Soeharto turned down Habibie's offer of Rp 26.5
billion for a house he was legally entitled to as a former
president when news of the offer stirred a public outcry.

Soeharto said that he hoped every one could look at the issue
regarding him and his family with a clear conscience. He added
that he remained steadfast in facing the public condemnations.

When asked about students' attempts to protest at his Jl.
Cendana residence, Soeharto said that they would be better off
protesting at the House of Representatives building. "Not here,
they won't find anything. I have abdicated," he said, using the
term he often uses to refer to his decision to step down on May
21 in the face of massive student protests.

Soeharto said that at least 22 lawyers have offered their
services to help defend him in the investigation. They include
notable names like O.C. Kaligis, Minangwarman and Adnan Buyung
Nasution. He said that he would contact them if and when he
needed them. "But I will only need several lawyers, not all of
them."

Pressure

President Habibie, reacting to mounting public pressure,
issued a decree on Thursday ordering Ghalib to investigate
Soeharto on charges of alleged corruption, collusion and
nepotism. The decree also stipulated the need to uphold the
principle of the presumption of innocence.

But while the decree was very wide in scope, Ghalib appeared
to focus on the Rp 22 billion in bank accounts under Soeharto's
name that his office has been able to uncover so far.

Ghalib said that Soeharto's accounts were found at a BCA
branch in Asemka, the Kebon Sirih branch of BBD, at Bank
Muamalat, Bank Tabungan Negara and the little know Bank Pesona.

Soeharto said that he has bank accounts only at BCA, BBD and
BRI.

"I have sent a letter this afternoon directly to his
(Soeharto's) residence on Jl. Cendana," Ghalib told journalists
at his office, contradicting a statement he made earlier in the
morning that he was planning to send the letter some time next
week.

When asked whether he had enough evidence to place Soeharto
under arrest, Ghalib replied, "We must proceed carefully. This is
a big and interesting affair."

Minister/State Secretary Akbar Tandjung said Ghalib could put
Soeharto under house arrest if it was deemed necessary.

"We leave it entirely to the Attorney General to decide on the
most appropriate and effective steps to take to implement the
presidential instruction," Akbar said.

Some political observers on Friday expressed doubts about the
seriousness of the government's investigation, in spite of
Habibie's decree.

Arbi Sanit of the University of Indonesia said the decree was
merely a move to placate critics.

"I have always doubted the government's sincerity in launching
such an investigation. They were never serious with their
statements," Arbi told The Jakarta Post.

He said that Habibie knew that if the investigation reached
the courts, there would be a devastating backlash against the
whole government.

Acting chairman of Muhammadiyah Syafii Ma'arif said he did not
believe Habibie had the political will to probe his one-time
mentor. "The psychological barrier is too big," Syafii said in
Yogyakarta.

Meanwhile, acting chairman of the Association of Moslem
Scholars, Ahmad Tirtosudiro, said, "The presidential decree is
proof that he (President B.J. Habibie) does have the guts to
investigate Soeharto contrary to widespread allegations."
(prb/imn/44/emb)