Two former ministers to be questioned

JAKARTA (JP): Two former industry ministers under former president Soeharto -- Mohamad "Bob" Hasan, Tunky Ariwibowo -- will be questioned by the Attorney General's office on Tuesday on possible corruption relating to the former president.

The Attorney General's Office spokesman Barman Zahir said the two would be questioned respectively regarding the controversial use of the reforestation fund and the national car project led by Soeharto's youngest son Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra.

Their appearance at the attorney general's office sets the stage for Wednesday's much anticipated questioning of Soeharto himself.

Attorney General Andi Muhammad Ghalib during a hearing with the House of Representatives' Commission I on political affairs, law and information on Monday refused to reveal much about the summoning of the two former ministers, referring all press queries to his spokesman.

Tunky served as minister in two Soeharto cabinets.

Hasan, while only serving as a minister for just one month in Soeharto's last cabinet, is known as the former president's golfing buddy. He is often dubbed Indonesia's 'timber king' for his extensive holdings in the timber business.

Ghalib once again vowed that if evidence of misconduct was found he would not hesitate to bring Soeharto to justice.

"Even if the sky should fall in, justice must be served," he said, trying to reassure legislators.

Ghalib stressed that "everything must be done in accordance with procedures and this may take time."

He dismissed allegations that he was dragging his feet and the fact that he is an active three-star Army general would cloud his judgment in investigating the retired five-star Army general.

"I face no obstacles on account of my being a military officer ... I was appointed by the president," Ghalib asserted.

Concerns were raised by legislator Usamah Hisyam of the United Development Party on the possibility that Ghalib would have to pay heed to the Armed Forces strict command line, while Armed Forces Chief Gen. Wiranto had vowed upon Soeharto's resignation to carry out his duty of protecting the former president's "safety and dignity".

Ghalib said Soeharto on Wednesday would be "confronted" with the Attorney General's Office's findings on his wealth.

He said Soeharto could become a suspect in a case of KKN -- an Indonesian acronym for corruption, collusion and nepotism -- if enough evidence was found. "We are now striving to get the maximum amount of data possible," he remarked.

In his written answer to the Commission's questions, which focused on Soeharto's wealth probe, Ghalib noted that his office had found a number of accounts in Soeharto's name.

He said an investigation into seven state banks, 57 commercial banks and eight foreign banks revealed that Soeharto had accounts in five local banks totaling Rp 23.3 billion (US$3.1 million).

Ghalib added that his office also found two blocks of land under Soeharto's name - one in Jakarta 101,901 square meters in size, another in Yogyakarta totaling 30,515 square meters.

Soeharto was also found to own shares in PT Sarana Yogya Ventura as well as two timber concessions under the name of PT Hanurata in East Kalimantan which is estimated to own a total of 265,984 hectares in concession forest.

Ghalib hinted that questions might also be raised over the seven foundations -- Supersemar, Dharmais, Dakab, Amal Bakti Muslim Pancasila, Dana Sejahtera Mandiri, Gotong Royong and Trikora -- which Soeharto in a private capacity had chaired.

It is estimated that the foundations are worth a total of Rp 4 trillion. Soeharto officially handed over the management of the foundations to the state last month.

Though the Attorney General's office has yet to find evidence of Soeharto's personal use of the funds, Ghalib said some practices, such as channeling the foundation's fund into businesses through the use of presidential decrees and various other government decrees, failed to reflect the people's sense of justice and "had violated the principle of good governance".

"Based on facts and data, a large proportion of the foundations' funds were used by third parties close to Soeharto," he said without elaborating. While these practices were beyond judicial bounds, as no laws regulate the issue, Ghalib described the practices as inappropriate.

Separately on Monday, ABRI spokesman Maj. Gen. Syamsul Ma'arif reiterated the Armed Forces' view that the prosecution must "go along with the existing laws" in its investigation.

"I think Soeharto is aware of his position as an Indonesian citizen, that everybody is equal before the law," he told reporters in his office. (aan/imn)