DATE=2/10/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=SUHARTO PROBE (S & L)
NUMBER=2-259018
BYLINE=GARY THOMAS
DATELINE=JAKARTA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Indonesia's deposed president has been named a
suspect in a government investigation into corruption.
Ex-president Suharto has been summoned for questioning
in a probe into the workings of charitable foundations
he controlled. As Correspondent Gary Thomas reports
from Jakarta, government investigators are stepping up
the pressure on the once-powerful former leader of
Indonesia.
TEXT: For the first time, former-President Suharto
has been formally named a suspect in a corruption
probe. He has been ordered to appear for questioning
by government lawyers Monday.
The attorney general's office is investigating
allegations Mr. Suharto misused charities he
controlled to amass funds for his family and friends.
A spokesman said he is implicated in alleged criminal
acts. Mr. Suharto is also expected to be quizzed
about a range of allegations about the enormous wealth
his family managed to build.
Mr. Suharto is 78-years old and has suffered a stroke
since leaving office. But a government spokesman says
his health appears to be improving.
After 32-years of autocratic rule, Mr. Suharto was
forced from power in 1998 after escalating mass
protests. The call for an end to corruption,
cronyism, and nepotism was a key rallying point for
the anti-government demonstrations.
// REST OPT FOR LONG //
Thousands of people took to the streets in indignation
over the alleged favoritism granted to the Suharto
family and their associates. Some family members were
granted lucrative business monopolies.
Mr. Suharto has steadfastly denied any wrongdoing. He
brought a suit against "Time" magazine for alleging
that the Suharto family amassed billions of dollars in
ill-gotten wealth.
Interim president B-J Habibie, who came to power when
Mr. Suharto was forced out, launched a corruption
probe of his predecessor. The ex-president was
questioned several times. The investigation was
abandoned after government lawyers said there was not
enough evidence to bring charges against Mr. Suharto.
But the probe was revived in December by the new
government of President Abdurrahman Wahid. Attorney
General Marzuki Darusman said there is evidence
pointing to a misuse of power by the Suharto family
and their friends to accrue vast wealth.
President Wahid has asked Swiss authorities to search
for any Suharto funds hidden in bank accounts there.
He has also said he would pardon the former president
if he repents and returns the funds he is alleged to
have received. (SIGNED)
NEB/GPT/RAE
10-Feb-2000 07:46 AM EDT (10-Feb-2000 1246 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
