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)