suharto - amla

In 2004, Transparency International placed Mr. Suharto at the very top of their list of corrupt politicians, estimating that he and his family allegedly embezzled $15 to $35 billion during his 32-year presidency. (A 1999 Time Magazine investigative article had placed the Suharto family fortune at $15 billion.) On December 31, 2010, the Supreme Court of the Republic of Indonesia announced that it had "retrieved" $307 million from the Soeharto family in connection with the Supersemar Foundation case. Supersemar Foundation was one of many presidential yayasan, or foundations set up by Mr. Suharto. According to secondary sources, the foundations were set up ostensibly for charitable purposes, and were controlled by Suharto, his wife and her relatives, the Suharto children, military aides and other associates. Some of the foundations received "donations" from state-owned banks, which were required to give a percentage of their profits and those making over a certain salary were also required by a presidential decree to donate a percentage of their income. In 2000, Mr. Suharto was charged with embezzling $570 million from the various charities that he and his family operated, but the South Jakarta District Court dismissed the criminal charges after Mr. Suharto was deemed in ill health and unable to stand trial. In July 2007, a civil suit was filed against him seeking $1.1 billion in damages from his embezzlement; the suit was pending at time of his death at age 86. Mr. Suharto's youngest child, Tommy Suharto, has been convicted on corruption and murder charges. Other Suharto children have been investigated but not convicted. Mr. Suharto's half-brother Probosutejo was convicted of embezzling state reforestation funds and sentenced to a four year term and fine of US $11.2 million. Aides and associates have also been convicted on numerous corruption charges.