'Time' is liable for its story: Soeharto's lawyer

'Time' is liable for its story: Soeharto's lawyer

JAKARTA (JP): A lawyer for former president Soeharto said on
Tuesday that New York-based Time Magazine is liable for its May
24, 1999 cover story, although other publications corroborated
with similar stories.

"Although our client has not sued other publications, this
does not mean that Time is not guilty," said O.C. Kaligis, one of
Soeharto's lawyers, at the Central Jakarta District Court.

Kaligis dismissed the assertion by Time's lawyers that the
fact that Soeharto has failed to sue other publications is
telling in itself.

"The way the defendant prepared its defense statement (by
questioning Soeharto's failure to sue other publications) proves
that it is guilty," he told the hearing presided over by judge
Sihol Sitompul.

He said the magazine has not provided evidence for its
allegation that Soeharto transferred US$9 billion to banks in
Switzerland and Austria.

Kaligis said that a cartoon in the magazine, which depicted
Soeharto hugging his private home in London, was also slanderous.

"It brings an impression to people that Soeharto is greedy."

Kaligis said in the hearing, which was also attended by Time's
lawyer Todung Mulya Lubis, that all media reports accusing the
former president of amassing a billion-dollar fortune during his
32-year reign were baseless.

"They need a thorough investigation to reveal the truth," he
said.

Soeharto filed a lawsuit against the weekly magazine last
July, demanding US$27 billion for materials losses and US$ 40,000
for immaterial losses. These losses are claimed to result from
Time's allegedly slanderous articles that he and his family
amassed a US$15 billion fortune during his reign.

Judge Sihol adjourned the hearing until Feb. 15 to hear the
Time lawyers' defense statement. (asa)