Robert Go, Jakarta – Indonesia's new Attorney-General pledged yesterday to restart corruption proceedings against former President Suharto, who spent his 80th birthday praying at a mosque and giving out charity packages to orphans.
Mr Baharudin Lopa, who was sworn into office on Tuesday, also announced an ambitious agenda that included arresting the former leader's fugitive son, Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra, and stepping up probes against ethnic-Chinese tycoons Prajogo Pangestu and Sjamsul Nursalim.
The immediate attacks on the four pending cases could be seen as an effort to dispel speculation that Mr Baharudin was appointed in part to thwart impeachment procedures against President Abdurrahman Wahid by digging up charges implicating members of the opposition.
A spokesman for the Attorney-General's Office, Mr Mulyohardjo, said: "Suharto is a priority case and we wish to finish this case. The doctors have to declare him fit first, but after that, we could take him to court again." The courts dismissed a US$600 million corruption case against Mr Suharto last year after teams of doctors testified that the former ruler was too ill to stand trial.
Said Mr Baharudin: "It needs to be understood that we are serious about prosecuting these cases. Hunting for Tommy is a top priority. He has to serve his sentence." Hutomo disappeared last November after the courts found him guilty of corruption and sentenced him to an 18-month jail term.
The Attorney-General added that investigators would pursue and bring home for questioning Messrs Prajogo and Sjamsul, who are not facing any charges yet. Mr Prajogo is reportedly in Singapore for business while Mr Sjamsul is in Japan for medical treatment.
Mr Abdurrahman last year gave the two tycoons – their conglomerates are heavily in debt – and Texmaco-boss Marimutu Sinivasan immunity from prosecution "due to the vital roles they and their companies play in the economy".
Prosecutors, however, have said they are building strong corruption cases against them and will be able to file charges as soon as the formal questioning procedures – which both have dodged by being out of the country or pleading illness – are completed.
But despite Mr Baharudin's aggressive promises and his reputation as an uncompromising and tough anti-corruption crusader, legal analysts argue that success in prosecuting corrupt officials and cronies depends on support from the government.
Prominent human-rights lawyer Frans Winarta said: "Everybody knows who is guilty. The problem is whether the process has support from politicians and the law-enforcement system." Law Professor J.E. Sahetapy, an MP from the Indonesian Democratic Party-Struggle, agreed: "Lopa can't do the job all by himself. He has to delegate to his assistants and much depends on how the entire system works."