Indonesia to file civil charges against Suharto-report

JAKARTA, Jan 6 (Reuters) The Indonesian attorney-general's office plans to file a civil lawsuit against former president Suharto by the end of this month, the Jakarta Post reported today.

The Jakarta Post quoted Attorney-General Abdul Rahman Saleh as saying his office was still calculating how much money it aimed to seize from Suharto.

''I don't know the exact amount. One thing for sure, it's a lot of money,'' he said.

The attorney-general's office dropped graft charges against Suharto in May because of his poor health.

The graft charges relate to allegations of misuse of funds by seven charity groups once headed by Suharto, although his critics say the amounts involved are a small part of billions of dollars misspent or improperly funnelled to his family and associates during his 32 years of iron-fisted rule.

Suharto, who stepped down in 1998 when social and political chaos engulfed Indonesia, has denied wrongdoing.

The former general sharply raised incomes in Indonesia at the expense of political freedom and endemic graft during his years in power, with critics saying he and members of his family corruptly amassed up to billion, accusations they deny.

In a rare interview in late 1998, Suharto rejected speculation he'd stashed wealth overseas.

''The fact is I don't even have one cent of savings abroad, don't have accounts at foreign banks, don't have deposits abroad and don't even have any shares in foreign firms,'' he said.

REUTERS SP RK1218