Suharto’s kin makes a tearful denial

ALLEGATIONS UNTRUE, HE SAYS

BUSINESS tycoon Probosutedjo, former President Suharto’s half-brother, cried as he addressed a university graduation ceremony in Yogyakarta last week.

No, he did not shed tears for the hundreds of students from the Wangsala Manggala University who got that all important certificate.

He was more overcome with emotion defending himself against charges that he had amassed a fortune during Mr Suharto’s 32-year rule.

Mr Probosutedjo, who chairs the foundation that runs the university, used the occasion to brush aside allegations of corruption, collusion and nepotism.

“I did nothing as they have alleged,” he was quoted as saying in the Jakarta Post.

“What I have been doing is purely business,” he added.

He ended his speech with a word of advice for the fresh graduates – ignore accusations, if any, that the money used to finance their university was obtained through any of the alleged offences.