Corruption harges dropped against Suharto

Corruption charges against ailing former Indonesian dictator Suharto have been dropped, and he is a "free man," Indonesia's attorney general announced Friday.

Photo: Corruption harges dropped against Suharto

Corruption harges dropped against Suharto

"Now Suharto is no longer a defendant, he is a free man," said Attorney General Abdul Rahman Saleh.

Suharto, 84, is currently in the hospital in Jakarta, where he has undergone colon surgery. Doctors say he is in frail health, which may have influenced the decision to drop the charges.

Rahman said, however, that the decision was made solely on the basis of the law.

The possible action to drop the charges has been hotly debated recently.

Rahman's announcement came just hours after Indonesia's president said he had abandoned a plan to drop corruption charges against ailing former dictator Suharto, citing what he said was public anger over the proposed move, reports the AP.

I.L.