Wahid rejects Tommy's plea

By Amit Baruah

SINGAPORE, OCT. 4 The Indonesian President, Mr. Abdurrahman Wahid, today rejected the plea for pardon by Mr. Tommy Suharto, the youngest son of the former dictator, Gen. Suharto. Talking to reporters in Jakarta after returning from a foreign tour, Mr. Wahid said, ``No, no, no'', when asked if the pardon plea would be entertained.

Asked whether Mr. Tommy Suharto, who has been convicted in a corruption case would go to jail, the President replied: ``It's up to the Attorney-General.'' However, it appears that for the sentence to be executed, a formal rejection from Mr. Wahid is required for the process to go forward. Mr. Wahid, who appeared in good health, denied reports that he had suffered a ``stroke'' as had been speculated upon in sections of the press.

AFP reports:

The head of the panel of judges, which dismissed a corruption case against Gen. Suharto, has said he did not exonerate the former President of all charges and he could still face trial, a report said today.

``The case has not been stopped in any way... Whether tomorrow, a week or a month later, if prosecutors want to bring back the case into this court, the case will just get a new number,'' Judge Lalu Mariyun said according to the Jakarta Post .

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Section  : International
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