A legal setback for Suharto

By P. S. Suryanarayana

SINGAPORE, JUNE 9. The former Indonesian President, Gen. Suharto, today suffered a legal setback as his house arrest was extended and a court in Jakarta upheld the recent resumption of an anti- corruption investigation of his role in the alleged syphoning of State funds by him and his family through certain charitable foundations managed by them.

The South Jakarta Court today ruled that the recent decision by the Attorney-General's Office to reopen the anti- graft probe against Gen. Suharto was valid under the relevant provisions of the Indonesian criminal law.

The judge did not reportedly rule on the question of the house arrest which the former President had been placed under, as the matter fell outside the court's jurisdiction.

However, a political version in Jakarta was that the house arrest was today extended by the Attorney General's Office until July 11. It was to have expired on June 12, and Gen. Suharto's lawyers were of the opinion that there was no need for any such extension as the former President was cooperating with the authorities in regard to the investigations. Gen. Suharto has consistently denied any wrong-doing while in office.

Today's developments added to the political woes of the erstwhile strongman of Indonesia, given that he had suffered a legal setback only recently in respect of his objections to an international media story on his alleged accumulation of wealth disproportionate to the known sources of his income during his 32-year reign.

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Section  : International
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