Indonesia asks US, Swiss help on Suharto's assets

United Press International - Wednesday, 26 April 2000

Indonesia asks US, Swiss help on Suharto's assets

JAKARTA, Indonesia, April 26 (UPI) - A senior Indonesian official said Wednesday negotiations are on with several countries, including the United States and Switzerland, to help trace the wealth that may have been stashed away by former President Suharto.

The official, Attorney General Marzuki Darusman, said, "Talks are underway between our ambassador to Switzerland and the Swiss authorities on the legal implications... including possibility of help in tracing assets owned by Pak (Mr.) Suharto."

He was speaking to reporters after a cabinet meeting chaired by President Abdurrahman Wahid.

"Similar negotiations are also being carried out with several others government authorities, including the United States," Darusman said.

Darusman also said the charitable institutions once chaired by Suharto were being examined more closely.

Meanwhile, Yushar Yahya, a spokesman for the attorney general's office, told reporters that a letter of order would be issued in the next few days to freeze assets belonging to the several charitable foundations in connection with the investigation.

Yahya said the move came after a ruling issued by the south Jakarta district court on Tuesday that approved the attorney general's office's request to seize assets belonging to the seven charity foundations. Local media reported that one among the seized assets is a 20-story building in south Jakarta that is currently being leased for commercial purposes.

Suharto, 78, is being investigated for graft during his 32-year rule.

The U.S. magazine Fortune last year estimated Suharto's family fortune at about $4 billion. Time magazine, which Suharto has sued, put its estimate at $15 billion.

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