The disgraced former Indonesian president, General Suharto, could be placed under house arrest during an official investigation of his wealth, a senior government official said yesterday.
The State Secretary, Mr Akbar Tandjung, said the Attorney General, Mr Andi Ghalib, could put Gen Suharto under house arrest while he investigated allegations that the ex-president had corruptly amassed a personal fortune during his 32 years in power.
"If he feels this step is necessary . . . that there is a need to put Suharto under house arrest, it is up to the attorney-general," Mr Tandjung said.
Mr Ghalib later said he would call Gen Suharto in for questioning soon. "We will summon Suharto as soon as possible - God willing, next week."
Mr Ghalib said he would also summon several cabinet ministers who, he said, may be able to provide information on Gen Suharto's actions during his years in power.
He gave no further details. President B.J. Habibie and several ministers are close to Gen Suharto and owe their positions to him.
Some analysts estimate Gen Suharto and his family built up a fortune worth $40 billion during his autocratic rule.
Gen Suharto ceded control of seven charities, worth $500 million, to the government last week. Authorities said last month that they had so far uncovered about $3 million in accounts held by the general in local banks.
The forestry department says its investigations have so far found that Gen Suharto, his family and friends own or control about nine million hectares (22.5 million acres) of rainforest - about the size of the main island of Java or about twice the size of the Republic of Ireland.
The millionaire defended his wealth in a magazine interview yesterday, portraying himself as a money-wise saver and landlord.
Gen Suharto (77) told the Dharmais magazine run by one of his former charities that the $3 million in his accounts was savings from his presidential salary and rent from two houses.
"That money I collected and deposited in the banks, and every month it increased until it reached this amount of about 22 billion rupiah (about £2 billion)," he was quoted as saying.
Gen Suharto's presidential salary is not known, but cabinet ministers currently earn four million rupiah a month - $530.
Gen Suharto said he was not afraid of any investigation, adding that even a former president could not be above the law.
He stepped down in May amid calls for democratic reforms and growing unrest triggered by the country's worst economic crisis in decades.
President Habibie, his handpicked successor, on Thursday ordered Mr Ghalib to speed up his investigation in the face of rising protests demanding that the general be tried for corruption and human rights abuses.
Christians fled yesterday as a church was set on fire by a Muslim mob on the island of Sulawesi and troops and protesters scuffled in Jakarta.