Saturday, December 11, 2004
Indonesia investigates Suharto family over British arms deal
Agence France-Presse Jakarta, December 11
Indonesia's powerful anti-graft officials on Saturday said they were investigating the daughter of former president Suharto over claims a British arms firm paid her millions of dollars over a deal to sell tanks.
The inquiry into Siti Hardiyanti "Tutut" Rukmana, Suharto's eldest daughter, is the Corruption Eradication Commission's first into the inner circle of the ex-dictator, who has escaped trial for massive graft due to ill health.
"We are currently studying the documents. I admit that this is a very interesting case because it has an intersting name, Tutut, in it," said the Commission's deputy head Erry Hardjapamekas.
The inquiry follows the publication by the Guardian newspaper of documents allegedly showing that British arms firm Alvis paid 16.5 million pounds (31.9 million dollars) in bribes to Rukmana to secure the sale of Scorpion tanks.
Alvis attempted to keep the documents over the 160 million pound tank deak a secret, but Britain's high court last week ordered the newspaper could have access to material.
Hardjapamekas said he was inspecting the documents prior to preparing a dossier that could lead to a court hearing. He said the role of the Indonesian Army was also being investigated.
Indonesia's anti-corruption body, which works independently of the country's often tainted legal system, has been charged with tackling the widespread graft -- a key goal of new President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
An investigation into Suharto's daughter is a bold step for the Commission as it will encroach on the former president, whose continued liberty has been condemned by activists who say he must face justice for crimes during his rule.
A Jakarta court in September 2000 ruled that Suharto was mentally and physically unfit to stand trial on charges of embezzling 571 million dollars in state funds.
The Transparency International group has ranked Suharto, who stepped down in 1998 after three decades in power, as the most corrupt leader in recent times, alleging his family amassed up to 35 billion dollars.
He has escaped trial because doctors say strokes have left him mentally unable to follow court proceedings.
Suharto's youngest son Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra is the only close family member to have been successfully prosecuted. He is currently serving a 15-year sentence for the murder of a judge who convicted him for corruption.
© HT Media Ltd. 2004.