INDONESIA: ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE FORMALLY CHARGES FORMER PRESIDENT SUHARTO WITH CORRUPTION

Record ID: 230470

  • Title: INDONESIA: ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE FORMALLY CHARGES FORMER PRESIDENT SUHARTO WITH CORRUPTION
  • Date: 3rd August 2000
  • Summary: JAKARTA, INDONESIA (AUGUST 3, 2000) (REUTERS) 1. SLV ENTRANCE TO FORMER INDONESIAN PRESIDENT'S HOME 0.07 2. MV SUHARTO'S TEAM OF LAWYERS STANDING OUTSIDE HOME; MV MEDIA (3 SHOTS) 0.28 3. MV GROUP COMING OUT OF HOUSE 0.40 4. (SOUNDBITE) (Bahasa Indonesia) ATTORNEY GENERAL'S SPOKESPERSON YUSHAR YAHYA: "Suharto was present at the meeting, and we have informed him about the change of status from suspect (to the accused) and about the transfer of evidence to the high prosecutor's office." 0.48 5. MV OFFICIALS LEAVING 0.53 6. (SOUNDBITE) (Bahasa Indonesia) TAMPUBOLON: "Suharto's health, according to recent official check-ups, showed the fact that there is permanent brain damage. The diagnosis confirmed previous check-ups by Suharto's private doctors that Suharto's capacity to make statements cannot be held responsible in the court of law." 1.25 7. SV TAMPUBOLON AND MEDIA 1.28 JAKARTA, INDONESIA (FILE) (REUTERS) 8. HAS/SCU SUHARTO LEAVING HOSPITAL (2 SHOTS) 1.39 9. SV SUHARTO ENTERING UNIDENTIFIED BUILDING WAVING AND SMILING (2 SHOTS) 1.54 10. MV/SCU SUHARTO ATTENDING THE WEDDING OF HIS YOUNGEST SON (3 SHOTS) 2.08 11. MV/SLV SUHARTO MEETING INDONESIAN PRESIDENT ABDURRAHMAN WAHID (3 SHOTS) 2.23 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 18th August 2000 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: JAKARTA, INDONESIA
  • Country: Indonesia
  • Reuters ID: LVA9NA0FPAQFF5AY4ZRNPCL5GM09
  • Story Text: The Indonesian Attorney-General's office has formally
    charged disgraced ex-president Suharto with corruption,
    bringing the one-time despot closer to court.

    A trial is expected to start this month, despite claims
    by Suharto's lawyers that their client is too ill to testify.

    The Attorney-General's office said last week that Suharto, 79,
    would be charged with corruption for the misuse of funds from
    seven charities he controlled during his army-backed rule.

    "Suharto was present at the meeting, and we have informed
    him about the change of status from suspect (to the accused)
    and about the transfer of evidence to the high prosecutor's
    office," said Attorney General spokesman Yushar Yahya.

    Officials have given differing figures for the misused
    funds, ranging from $150 million USD to $550 million USD.

    Suharto was forced out of office in 1998 after 32 years
    of iron rule that fostered economic growth, but led to
    widespread human rights abuses and corruption.

    He and his family have been accused of corruptly amassing
    a $45 billion USD fortune during his presidency, prompting
    some critics to label the current charges inadequate.

    The former strongman has denied any wrongdoing.

    It was unclear what jail term Suharto could face, with
    some officials putting the maximum sentence at either 20 years
    or life in prison.

    Officials had previously said Suharto would not be
    formally charged, until an indictment was read in court.

    Suharto's lawyers accuse the government of President
    Abdurrahman Wahid of using the case to deflect attention ahead
    of a meeting of the top legislature next week, where the
    Moslem cleric will account for his first rocky year in office.

    Suharto suffered a stroke last year and was also
    hospitalised for another ailment.

    The mercurial Wahid, who has ordered informal talks with
    Suharto's family to try arrange the return of any ill-gotten
    wealth, has said he would pardon Suharto if he was convicted.
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