Suharto to Face Skimming Charges

Indonesia’s attorney general filed corruption charges against former President Suharto, accusing him of skimming $157 million from seven charitable foundations he controlled during his 32 years of rule. The former dictator faces life in prison if found guilty, although he has been offered a pardon by the reformist head of state, Abdurrahman Wahid, if he returns the money. Suharto, 79, ruled Indonesia with an iron hand until 1998. He is now under house arrest at his home in Jakarta, the capital, where he is recuperating from a series of strokes.