Vaudine England, Jakarta – In the face of strong public criticism, the Attorney-General has reorganised staff and departments to give greater priority to the corruption case against former president Suharto.
The most obvious move has been taking the head of the investigating team, Chairul Imam, off the case pending his planned retirement.
Attorney-General Marzuki Darusman said yesterday the move was routine "in the sense that it is part of structural changes under way in the office". "These are intended to give more attention to the Suharto cases," Mr Darusman said. Office spokesman Yushar Yahya said: "Imam is preparing to retire soon."
Mr Darusman, rather than suggesting any lack of zeal by Mr Imam, has used the move to give added impetus to an investigation that has become mired in political considerations and the allegedly failing health of 78-year-old Suharto.
The investigators have been rebuffed by Mr Suharto's lawyers over three attempts to summon him for questioning. Efforts to question him at his home have been stopped twice by his doctors.
Although many Indonesians favour holding Mr Suharto to account in some way, leaders including President Abdurrahman Wahid say the former strongman should be pardoned.
But Mr Darusman wants it clear that prevarication by the former president will not stop a case he defines as the key test of the Government's desire to reform a shattered legal system and restore confidence to the business community.
"We are making reasonable progress," Mr Darusman said. "Obviously, Suharto's health is a problem, not just for me but, increasingly, for the public. But this is not an either-or situation, this is a multi-faceted investigation. If things slow down on one front, we will be tackling others."
An indication of the Attorney-General's approach was seen last week when Mr Suharto's eldest daughter, Siti "Tutut" Hardyanti Rukmana, was called in for five hours of questioning about charitable foundations run by the Suhartos on the basis of forced donations from state firms.
Within days her brother, Bambang Trihatmodjo, also experienced five hours of grilling on the same subject. Mr Suharto's closest golfing friend and business associate, Mohamad "Bob" Hasan, remains in administrative detention for questioning about alleged embezzlement of forest aid funds. "With the latest changes, we and the public expect that things will speed up," Mr Darusman said.
Prosecutors under Mr Imam last week also barred Mr Suharto from leaving Jakarta. But they have stopped short of following a suggestion from Mr Wahid that he be placed under house arrest if he does not co-operate with the investigation.
Mr Bambang said his father, who is a virtual recluse in his home in a plush downtown Jakarta suburb, had not yet been told of the travel ban.
Wahid rival and chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly, Amien Rais, now favours pardoning Mr Suharto for past mistakes if he submits to a speedy trial, in absentia if necessary, and returns any corruptly gained wealth. "I am trying to be wise now and I sympathise now with Suharto," Mr Rais said.
He said Mr Suharto could not be held solely responsible for mistakes made during his 32-year rule. The blame should also be shared by the MPs who kept re-electing him, by the Muslim leaders who preached in his favour, and by the media and academics who praised him and his moves, Mr Rais said.