Soeharto's city arrest extended by 20 days

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)