World

Suharto To Begin Trial

August 23, 2000 / 8:16 AM EDT / AP

Former President Suharto will go on trial for corruption next week and the former dictator must attend despite claims that he is not mentally fit, a judge announced Wednesday.

The open hearing will start Aug. 31 and be held in an auditorium at an agricultural ministry building because of space and security concerns, said Lalu Mariyun, chief judge of South Jakarta District Court.

"We have ordered the prosecutor to bring the defendant to court," Mariyun said. "God willing, we hope he will show up. If not, we will see what is the reason."

Suharto's prosecution is regarded as a crucial test of the resolve of Indonesia's 10-month-old reform-minded government to clean up endemic corruption. He is charged with siphoning off at least $570 million in state funds through a network of charities under his control. Much of the money allegedly bankrolled massive business empires owned by his children and cronies.

Suharto, who like many Indonesians uses one name, has denied any wrongdoing. He could spend the rest of his life in prison if convicted, although President Abdurrahman Wahid has offered to pardon him in exchange for the return of any ill-gotten gains.

The former dictator's legal team said they doubted their 79-year-old client would be mentally and physically fit enough to attend the hearing.

They say Suharto's memory and ability to comprehend questions have been diminished by a series of strokes, and have suggested postponing the non-jury trial until his health improves.

"He is suffering from permanent brain damage," said defense lawyer Syamsul Hadi. "We will have to wait and see if is fit enough or not."

Indonesia's Attorney General Marzuki Darusman, a human rights activist during Suharto's reign and now Indonesia's top legal officer, said medical tests show he is fit to go to court.

Darusman estimated the heavily guarded trial could take six months to complete.

Suharto had been under house arrest since May. His status was changed recently to allow him to travel around, but not outside of, Jakarta.

Suharto's trial is expected to attract crowds of pro-democracy student protesters who helped oust Suharto from power in 1998 and have been demanding his prosecution ever since.

Some also want Suharto charged with violations of human rights.

"We are not satisfied. The court is only focusing on Suharto's charities, while Suharto's crimes go deeper than that," said Faisal Saimima, spokesman for Forkot, a student protest group.