Soeharto's city arrest extended by 20 days

JAKARTA (JP): The Attorney General's Office extended on Monday the city arrest of former president Soeharto by 20 days.

"A team will go to Soeharto's residence tomorrow (Tuesday) to hand him the notification of the city arrest extension," Attorney General Marzuki Darusman said.

Soeharto was placed under city arrest for 20 days on April 13 and prohibited from leaving the country for a year. The move followed the naming of Soeharto as a suspect in a corruption probe.

The 78-year-old retired five-star general is suspected of abusing his power and authority in issuing decrees and government regulations to amass funds through seven tax-free charity foundations, which he set up and chaired during his 32 years in power.

Following the restrictions place on the former president, the Attorney General's Office summoned executives of the foundations, including two of Soeharto's children. The office also confiscated documents relating to the Supersemar Foundation and Dharmais Foundation as evidence in the case.

Marzuki added that when the team went to Soeharto's residence with the extension notice, they would also meet with the former president to confirm whether he was fit enough to resume questioning.

"If he is not, then the team will officially request the medical team run a comprehensive medical check on Soeharto," he said.

Soeharto was questioned twice last month, but both times questioning was cut short after doctors insisted Soeharto was too ill to continue.

His lawyers have repeatedly said Soeharto is unable to undergo questioning, because he cannot communicate clearly as a result of the stroke he suffered last year. (01)