Travel ban on Soeharto extended

JAKARTA: The Attorney General's Office has extended the travel ban against former president Soeharto for another year in order to facilitate the legal proceedings against him, as he faces trial on corruption charges.

Spokesman Muljohardjo said on Tuesday that the extension of the travel ban, which would take effect on April 12, was imposed to avoid any chance of the defendant escaping trial.

The defendant is banned from traveling overseas in connection with his alleged role in the corruption cases involving several foundations, including Dharma Bakti Sosial, Dana Abadi Karya Bhakti and Supersemar.

Soeharto allegedly diverted some US$571 million of the foundations' funds to his children, relatives and cronies while in power. The funds themselves were amassed from the state through several presidential decrees and regulations.

Soeharto, who will turn 80 this June, is facing mobility difficulties and suffering from impaired speech; these disabilities are the result of three strokes he suffered after resigning in the middle of 1998.

Last year, the South Jakarta District Court dropped the case because it found that the defendant was too ill to stand trial. (bby)