Suharto's Moment Of Truth?

Former Indonesian President Suharto has been accused of many things, from genocide in East Timor to illegally amassing a multibillion-dollar fortune. But he has successfully avoided serious judicial scrutiny since riots forced him to resign in May, 1998. Until now, that is. On July 27, a week after enraged students marched on Suharto's Jakarta home with a grotesque effigy and chants of "Hang Suharto!," Attorney General Marzuki Darusman declared the ailing ex-dictator fit to stand trial. Suharto, Darusman said, would be arraigned in court by Aug. 10.

Suharto will not be tried for the alleged atrocities that have made him infamous. Instead, Darusman is narrowing his charges to those he believes are provable. The core allegation is that Suharto, as chairman of a charitable foundation, laundered almost $600 million he then used to finance family investments. In a case that could last up to a year, Suharto faces a term of 12 to 15 years if he's convicted of corruption. Frail at age 79, Suharto would have to count that a life sentence.