Eric Talmadge, Jakarta – Corruption charges against ailing former Indonesian dictator Suharto have been dropped, and he is a "free man," Indonesia's attorney general announced Friday. "Now Suharto is no longer a defendant, he is a free man," said Attorney General Abdul Rahman Saleh.
Suharto, 84, is currently in the hospital in Jakarta, where he has undergone colon surgery. Doctors say he is in frail health, and Rahman indicated his inability to stand trial was behind the decision to drop the charges.
"Our conclusion, after hearing the statement from the doctors, is that Suharto's condition is getting worse," Rahman said in his announcement. Rahman added, however, the case could be reopened if "new developments" were found – suggesting that Suharto could still be tried if his health improves.
Rahman also said prosecutors were still investigating a total of 3.4 trillion rupiah (US$392.5 million) allegedly collected by seven fundraising foundations controlled by Suharto.
Suharto was ousted after 32 years in 1998 amid student protests and nationwide riots. In 2000, prosecutors charged him with embezzling $600 million, but he never saw the inside of court after his lawyers argued that a series of strokes had left him with irreparable brain damage.
Dropping the charges has been hotly debated recently. Rahman's announcement came just hours after Indonesia's president said he decided not to drop the case, citing what he said was public anger over the proposed move.
"The waves of opposing and supporting voices are getting higher and this could lead to conflict," Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono told an early morning media conference. "I have chosen to shelve this problem... until the right time."
On Thursday, State Secretary Yusril Ihza Mahendra – appointed by Yudhoyono to investigate the Suharto case – said the government intended to drop charges and take steps to "rehabilitate" his name.
In recent days, the plan to drop the case has been front page news in Indonesia and has drawn much editorial comment for and against the move, but there have been no threats of large demonstrations. A few dozen protesters had gathered outside Suharto's home Friday, but no incidents were reported.
Suharto, whose regime was widely regarded as one of most corrupt and brutal of the late 20th century, still has many powerful supporters in the government, parliament and military who want his name cleared.
Some people have called for Suharto to apologize to the nation, or return money he allegedly stole, in exchange for the case being dropped. Others allege that he is feigning illness, and should be brought to trial or tried in absentia.
Doctors say Suharto – who has been hospitalized at least four times since 1998 – is weak, but recovering well from his latest operation, performed after he was diagnosed with intestinal bleeding.
Critics say that the $600 million embezzlement case represents only a tiny fraction of the money he and his family stole. They also say Suharto should be charged in connection with at least 500,000 political killings during his regime, mostly of communists and left-wing government opponents. Suharto has kept a low profile since his ouster.
[Associated Press writer Ali Kotarumalos in Jakarta contributed to this report.]