JAKARTA, Indonesia (Reuters) -- Hundreds of Indonesian students protested in the streets of Jakarta on Tuesday demanding former president Suharto face corruption charges, on the eve of an official interrogation of the former leader.
Students held several small-scale demonstrations in their drive to press President B.J. Habibie to put Suharto on trial over allegations of corruption and human rights abuses during his 32-year rule.Suharto, a virtual recluse since he was forced out of office in May amid political and economic turmoil, is due to make a rare trip from his home when he goes to Attorney-General Andi Muhammad Ghalib's office for questioning on Wednesday.
Two of Suharto's friends, Mohamad "Bob" Hasan and Tunky Ariwibowo, both former trade and industry ministers, also face questioning as part of the attorney-general's probe into Suharto's wealth.
Hasan, dubbed Indonesia's "timber king" because of his huge forest concessions, is due to be questioned on Wednesday over the use of an official reforestation fund.
Hasan is one of Suharto's close friends and a longtime golf partner.
Ariwibowo was questioned on Tuesday over his links with the now-discredited national car company PT Timor Putra Nasional.
The company was controlled by Suharto's youngest son, Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra and received special tax concessions.
He told reporters after the six-hour interrogation that he had been asked about his term as trade and industry minister from 1993 to 1998. But he gave no further details.
Ghalib also questioned Hadiyanto, treasurer of the Dharmais charity controlled by Suharto until he handed it and six more charities over to the government last month.
Hadiyanto told reporters he had done nothing wrong.
"I swear in the name of God that I did not spend any of the charity's money for my own interest," he said.
The attorney general has also summoned Beddu Amang, former head of the state commodities regulator Bulog, over the building of a warehouse complex.