INDONESIA: COURT RULES FORMER AUTOCRAT SUHARTO TOO ILL TO STAND TRIAL FOR CORRUPTION
Record ID:
584844
INDONESIA: COURT RULES FORMER AUTOCRAT SUHARTO TOO ILL TO STAND TRIAL FOR CORRUPTION
- Title: INDONESIA: COURT RULES FORMER AUTOCRAT SUHARTO TOO ILL TO STAND TRIAL FOR CORRUPTION
- Date: 28th September 2000
- Summary: JAKARTA, INDONESIA (SEPTEMBER 28, 2000) (REUTERS) 1. WS COURT IN SESSION 0.11 2. MV SUHARTO'S LAWYERS 0.16 3. VARIOUS INDEPENDENT DOCTORS EXPLAINING SUHARTO'S CONDITION/ MEDIA/ SLIDE PROJECTION/ DOCTORS (6 SHOTS) 0.49 4. WS JUDGES 0.52 5. SV CHIEF JUDGE LALU MARIYUN ANNOUNCING COURT RULING 1.17 6. SLV STUDENTS PROTESTING OUTSIDE COURT 1.23 7. LV POLICE BLOCKING STUDENTS 1.27 8. SLV POLICE CHARGING STUDENTS 1.32 9. SLV STUDENT BEATEN BY POLICE 1.44 10. SLV MORE OF CLASHES 1.49 11. SLV POLICE PATROLLING STREET 2.00 12. SV POLICE BLOCKING STREET 2.05 13. SLV STUDENTS THROWING ROCKS AT POLICE 2.08 14. SLV POLICE FIRING TEAR GAS, WARNING SHOTS 2.14 15. VARIOUS MOTORBIKE ON FIRE, PROTESTORS/ CHANTING/ POLICE (5 SHOTS) 2.41 16. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (Bahasa Indonesia) MAN SAYING: "As an Indonesian, I feel very disappointed by the decision. I fully support student movements for the sake of justice." 2.52 17. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (Bahasa Indonesia) SUHARTO'S SUPPORTER SAYING: "Even though he has faults and weaknesses, he has done many good deeds for the country." 3.05 18. VARIOUS OF PROTEST BY SUHARTO'S SUPPORTERS NEAR HIS RESIDENCE (3 SHOTS) 3.21 19. VARIOUS OF SECURITY (2 SHOTS) 3.31 20. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (Bahasa Indonesia)MARZUKI DARUSMAN, ATTORNEY GENERAL SPEAKING AFTER SPECIAL CABINET MEETING: "We have even requested the court to ask the Supreme Court to try Suharto 'in absentia' but the request is denied." 3.51 JAKARTA, INDONESIA (RECENT) (REUTERS) 21. VARIOUS OF SUHARTO LEAVING HOSPITAL 4.05 JAKARTA, INDONESIA (SEPTEMBER 28, 2000) (REUTERS) 22. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (Bahasa Indonesia) DARUSMAN SAYING: "I just want to say that we have tried for many times to really represent the people's desire for justice, but we have failed because I think the state has not done the outmost to show the people that all measures have been done."/ GETS INTO CAR AND CAR DRIVES OFF (2 SHOTS) 4.59 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 13th October 2000 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: JAKARTA, INDONESIA
- Country: Indonesia
- Reuters ID: LVA2KQXA8QCK0LUWT8MNSP4I9KG6
- Story Text: An Indonesian court has ruled former autocrat
Suharto is too ill to stand trial for corruption, all but
ending efforts to punish him for widespread graft and abuses
during his army-backed rule.
The decision triggered street clashes between students and
security forces in the capital Jakarta.
In a decision that raised fears of further violence
following a spate of bomb blasts that have coincided with the
case, the court on Thursday (September 28) also lifted
Suharto's city arrest order, allowing him to travel anywhere.
Prosecutors said they would lodge an appeal. But they face
an uphill battle after independent doctors told the South
Jakarta Court that the seventy-nine-year-old former president,
who has suffered three strokes since stepping down in 1998,
had the comprehension of a young child and was unfit to stand
trial.
"The court has decided that the criminal case of Suharto
cannot be accepted," said chief judge Lalu Mariyun. "Therefore
the case is closed."
On the volatile streets of Jakarta, the reaction was
quick.
Troops were forced to fire warning shots above the heads
of scores of outraged students as they headed toward Suharto's
luxury home in central Jakarta. The students fled, but later
burnt a motorcycle after earlier torching a bus.
Earlier, at least 10 students and local residents were
beaten by police near the court after throwing rocks at
security forces. Two local journalists have also been
hospitalised after being beaten by police.
Some 600 pro-Suharto loyalists have since gathered near
the ex-autocrat's home in anticipation of the students, who
witnesses said had regrouped and were heading towards the
residence.
The self-dubbed "Father of Development" had been charged
with embezzling 550 million U.S. dollars (USD) from charities
he controlled, but he and his family were also accused of
corruptly amassing a fortune of up to 45 billion USD during
his thirty-two-year rein.
Each of the three days of Suharto's trial were marked by
explosions, including a car bomb attack on the stock exchange
two weeks ago which killed at least 15.
Suharto loyalists have claimed responsibility for throwing
an explosive device at a human rights organisation in Jakarta
on Wednesday night.
Some government officials had already suggested the
Suharto case be dropped because of fears that attempts to
force the former general into court could ignite more violence
across a country struggling to shake off chronic instability.
Despite their failure to get Suharto in the dock,
authorities trying to cleanse a dark past have said Suharto's
son Tommy was likely to be jailed on Monday (October 2) after
being convicted of graft.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday overturned a lower court
verdict handed down last year and sentenced Tommy to 18 months
in jail over the mid-1990s land scam.
Officials said only seeking a pardon from Wahid would keep
Tommy out of jail for the moment. That would be most
unlikely to be granted after Wahid two weeks ago ordered Tommy
arrested in a bomb probe.
Tommy is still free, but his conviction marks a first for
any member of Suharto's family over graft allegations.
After three decades of undisputed power and privilege,
Suharto, his offspring and cronies are being humiliated at
every turn, with accusations they plundered the state or
that their supporters are linked to the violence hobbling
Indonesia.
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