Soeharto's Trial Likely to Resume in DecemberThe trial against Indonesian former president Soeharto was expected to be resumed some time in late December this year or early 2001, a prosecutor said Thursday, insisting his bad health would no longer become the obstacle to the trial.In an interview with Xinhua, Chief of Prosecutors of the Soeharto's corruption case, Muchtar Arifin said, "We expect the trial could resume in late December or early January (next year). Now, we have been waiting for the decision of the Supreme Court on the appeal lodged by Soeharto's lawyers." "Soeharto's lawyers have 14 days to file an appeal to the supreme court since the Jakarta provincial higher court decided to resume the trial on November 10. And after the appeal's lodging, they (lawyers) have another 14 days to await the Supreme Court's decision," he said. On September 28, the South Jakarta district court chaired by Lalu Mariyun dropped Soeharto's crime case and ordered prosecutors to release him from house arrest status due to Soeharto's illness. Prosecuting attorney fought the court rulings. And in turn, on November 10, the Jakarta provincial higher court accepted the prosecutors appeal, ordering the district court to resume trial against the former strong man. But, Soeharto's lawyers led by Juan Felix Tampubolon was set to fight against the provincial court ruling by lodging an appeal to the country's Supreme Court. Hoping the supreme court to reject the appeal, "we are awaiting for a month. And we hope the trial will resume in late December," Arifin said. Meanwhile, Soeharto's health condition was reportedly improving in the wake of deep relapse earlier this week. He collapsed twice and had to put on oxygen. The day before, Attorney General Marzuki Darusman also indicated that the former ruler who ran the country for more than three decades would be tried in absentia, saying "Soeharto's health permitting, prosecutors will not hesitate or feel constrained to bring his case to court again," Darusman said. Soeharto was forced to step down in May 1998, in the wake of massive riots which claimed thousand of lives nationwide. |
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