Suharto son's deposits probed

Indonesia is investigating whether millions of dollars deposited in a British territory by a son of former President Suharto were obtained illegally, officials said yesterday.

Jakarta was drawn into the case after Garnet Investment a company owned by Suharto's youngest son, Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra sued a branch of French bank BNP Paribas for refusing to release at least 36 million euros ($46.7 million) it had deposited.

A court in Guernsey, a British territory, has approved the Indonesian government's request to be a third party in the case, said Indonesia's Ambassador to Britain, Marty Natalegawa.