Tutut questioned over her wealth

Tutut questioned over her wealth

JAKARTA (JP): Siti Hardijanti "Tutut" Rukmana, the eldest
daughter of former president Soeharto, was questioned for eight
hours at the Attorney General's Office on Monday over a Time
magazine report putting her wealth at US$700 million.

"Most of the questions are incorrect, and the most accurate
fact is that I'm the daughter of Pak Harto," Tutut, 50, quipped
to the pack of reporters following questioning.

Wearing a light brown silk batik blouse, matching head scarf
and long black skirt, Tutut was accompanied by lawyer Amir
Syamsuddin. Plainclothes bodyguards conspicuous by their crewcuts
surrounded her.

Her entourage arrived at the office in a black Mercedes Benz
and a dark green Cherokee jeep at about 8:30 a.m.

After the questioning ended at 5 p.m., Tutut told reporters
that Time was correct in reporting in its May 24 Asian edition
that she owned a house in Boston in the United States.

But she said the magazine was mistaken in describing
it as a $1 million mansion with 12 rooms, a tennis court and
heated swimming pool.

"It's true that I have a house in Boston where my children are
staying now," the mother of three said.

However, she called the residence "a modest one with only five
rooms".

Tutut, who briefly served as social affairs minister in her
father's last Cabinet, also denied the report that she owned a
mansion in London's exclusive Hyde Park Square.

In its cover story titled Suharto Inc., the magazine estimated
Tutut's fortune was derived from her shareholdings in Citra
Lamtoro Gung Group, which has interests in more than 90 companies
ranging from telecommunications to infrastructure development.

It also oversees toll road projects in Indonesia and the
Philippines.

Although reporters pressed her to comment on the $700 million
allegation and her extensive range of businesses, Tutut
sidestepped the queries and talked instead about her feelings.

"I only feel relieved because I have explained everything
which was reported by Time," she remarked.

Tutut is the second of Soeharto's children to meet a summons
from the Attorney General's Office following the appearance by
her younger brother Bambang Trihatmodjo on Friday.

Grilled over his alleged $3 billion wealth, Bambang denied
most of the contents of the magazine's report except for his 38
percent shareholding in Bimantara Citra.

Their father, also acting on the Time report, appeared at the
Attorney General's Office last Thursday to submit his power of
attorney to the government to investigate a reported $9 billion
bank transfer in his name from Switzerland to Austria.

Soeharto's four other children also are scheduled to be
questioned this week.

Eldest son Sigit Harjojudanto will be questioned on Tuesday,
Hutomo "Tommy' Mandala Putra on Wednesday, Siti Hediyati "Titiek"
Harjadi on Thursday and the youngest daughter, Siti Hutami
"Mamiek" Endang Adiningsih, on Friday.

Trip

From Geneva, the Switzerland Press Club (SPC) on Monday
expressed regrets at Minister of Justice Muladi's refusal to hold
a news conference during his fact-finding mission to the country
over the alleged fund transfer.

"We regret that the Indonesian embassy in Bern has announced
that minister Muladi has rejected a press conference although
reports on former president Soeharto's alleged ill-gotten wealth
are an interesting issue," SPC chairman Guy Mettan told Antara.

Muladi, accompanied by Attorney General Andi M. Ghalib and
three banking officials, arrived in Geneva on Sunday.

The Indonesian embassy announced in Bern on the same day that
Muladi would not hold any news conferences during his stay in
Switzerland.

Journalists in Switzerland consider the group's visit
particularly significant as Soeharto is but one in a long list of
international leaders alleged to have stashed fortunes in the
country.

Muladi was scheduled to meet officials of the Swiss Bank and
the finance and justice ministries in closed-door gatherings on
Monday.

SPC, which also includes foreign journalists, hoped that
Muladi would release an official statement during his visit.

"The investigation into Soeharto's alleged wealth is important
news," Mettan stressed.

He also cited former Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos,
who funneled billions of dollars into Swiss banks.

Banking institutions in Switzerland, Mettan said, relied on
legal procedures to settle any problems, including suspect
wealth.

"When Soeharto was still in office, he reportedly kept his
wealth in Swiss banks. That is why we are looking for the
Indonesian justice minister's confirmation," he said. (emf)