Wahid to sue Suhartos

By Amit Baruah

SINGAPORE, NOV. 29. The Indonesian President, Mr. Abdurrahman Wahid, has said he will sue members of the Suharto family and their lawyers, over allegations that he tried to cut a ``deal'' with Mr. Tommy Suharto, youngest son of the former dictator, Gen. Suharto.

Mr. Tommy Suharto, now a fugitive from justice, had two meetings with Mr. Wahid after being convicted to an 18-month jail term by the country's Supreme Court. ``The President will sue people who have made accusations at will, especially those concerning the (first meeting with Mr. Tommy Suharto) at Borobudur (Hotel),'' a spokesman for Mr. Wahid was quoted as saying in Jakarta today.

A report in the latest issue of Tempo magazine claimed that the junior Suharto's ``people'' were convinced that they could ``best'' the Indonesian legal system without ``meddling'' from the President. The Tempo report said the President eventually agreed. ``The condition was two-thirds of Tommy's wealth said to be close to US $43 million....should be given to Gus Dur (Mr. Wahid's nickname),'' the magazine quoted sources close to the Suharto family as saying.

Mr. Elza Syarief, one of Mr. Tommy Suharto's lawyers, told the magazine that there were negotiations between Mr. Wahid and his client when they met at the Borobudur Hotel. The lawyer said he was ready to give details of the ``agreement'', provided that witnesses to the meeting guaranteed his security. According to the sources quoted by Tempo, Mr. Tommy Suharto even asked Mr. Wahid whether his wealth would go to the State or to the President. At this, the President went ``mad'' and said it was none of his business. ``The main thing is to give it,'' the President reportedly said as per the account given by Suharto family sources.

According to the same magazine, Mr. Noer Iskander, an Islamic scholar who was present at the meeting between the youngest Suharto and Mr. Wahid, there was no bargaining between the President and the convict.

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Section  : International
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