Court summons Soeharto's children

The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Wed, 02/13/2008 2:05 PM | Headlines

The South Jakarta District Court on Tuesday summoned Soeharto's children to represent in a legal capacity accusations made against their father in a multi million dollar civil lawsuit.

Presiding Judge Wahjono granted the state attorneys' request to summon Siti Hardijanti Rukmana, Sigit Hardjojudanto, Bambang Trihatmodjo, Siti Hediati Hariyadi, Hutomo Mandala Putra and Siti Hutami Adiningsih to continue their father's case.

"The summons was sent today to the Central Jakarta District Court who will then forward the letter to Soeharto's heirs," Wahjono said.

The district court has jurisdiction over the summons as Soeharto's children live in Menteng, Central Jakarta.

Court spokesperson Heru Pramono told reporters his office would facilitate the summons.

"Depending on when the trial will resume, we can then immediately summon (the heirs)," Heru said.

The South Jakarta District Court declared the civil lawsuit against Soeharto in connection with the alleged misuse of state funds.

The funds went to Soeharto's scholarship foundation Supersemar which would continue despite his recent death.

The state accused Soeharto and his foundation of channeling US$420 million and Rp 185.0 billion ($20.36 million) to several companies belonging to Soeharto cronies during his presidential tenure.

State attorneys demanded Soeharto and the foundation return the state money.

The civil lawsuit was chosen to recover money allegedly stolen by Soeharto after the government failed to bring him to court for alleged graft due to his ill health.

Dachmer Munthe, one of the prosecutors, said he hoped all six of Soeharto's children could appear in court to continue to fight for their legal rights, but said the trial would continue with or without them.

Soeharto's children may reject their inheritance and avoid trial.

But Soeharto and Supersemar lawyer Juan Felix Tampubolon has suggested they respond to the summonses.

The South Jakarta District Court was also scheduled Tuesday to hear conclusions from the prosecutor and the defense, but the accused did not show up and so the hearing was adjourned until Feb. 19. (anw)

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