By DPA
Jakarta : An Indonesian court Tuesday resumed hearings in a civil corruption case against former president late Suharto with a ruling that his heirs have to defend in the graft case.
The government is seeking $1.4 billion in assets and damages from Suharto, 86, who died Jan 27, and the Supersemar Foundation, a charity he previously chaired.
The case – part of a renewed effort by the government to bring the former dictator to justice – alleges Suharto oversaw the misallocation of money intended for scholarships for students.
Chief Judge Wahjono of the South Jakarta district court Tuesday ordered summons to be served on all six children of Suharto as defendants so that the graft case could be resumed.
Under Indonesian law, a defendant in a civil case can be replaced by his heirs if he dies.
The foundation collected donations from businessmen and other sources to provide scholarships. Many organizations regarded such donations as more or less compulsory during Suharto’s rule.
Prosecutors alleged the foundation paid money to companies run by members of the Suharto family and their close associates, including a privately-owned bank, a logging company and an airline controlled by one of Suharto’s sons.
Suharto escaped any criminal or civil trial for alleged gross human rights abuses and corruption involving billions of dollars during his 32-year rule, which ended in 1998 amid massive pro-democracy street protests.
Authorities charged the former dictator with embezzling $571 million from state charities while in power, but the case was dropped in 2000 in view of his poor health.
Prosecutors have been under pressure to file a civil case since the courts blocked moves to revive a criminal case last year, also on grounds that Suharto was too ill from a series of strokes to stand trial.