Suharto Charged With Corruption

Fri., Aug. 4, 2000

Indonesian prosecutors Thursday formally charged the country’s former president, Suharto, with corruption for allegedly skimming $570 million in public funds from charities under his control.

The prosecutors said they intend to bring the case to trial sometime this month despite objections from Suharto’s lawyers that he is too ill to be called to court. Suharto, a one-time military general who ruled Indonesia with an iron fist for 32 years, has suffered at least two strokes in recent years, and his lawyers contend that he cannot even “explain his thoughts.”

Indonesia’s attorney general has insisted that Suharto is fit enough to stand trial and has threatened to use “compulsory measures” to make him appear in court.

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Suharto Charged With Corruption

Jesse Tinsley

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