Indonesian prosecutors have filed a civil suit against former Indonesian president Suharto seeking more than $1.5 billion in damages and funds allegedly stolen from the state during his 32 years in power.

Court documents showed that prosecutors want Suharto to repay $441 million in stolen funds and $1.1 billion in damages.

"This is not a criminal case against corruption, but a civil lawsuit. We just want the money back. It could be used for the development of this country," Dachamer Munthe, public prosecutor, said.

The case was filed at the south Jakarta district court.

The money was allegedly channeled from the Indonesian Central Bank through state-owned banks to a Suharto-headed fund called Yayasan Supersemar.

"The suit was filed because evidence has been found that the funds gathered by Suharto and the foundation he chaired were not only used for scholarships ... but in reality the funds were also used for other purposes," said Munthe.

State prosecutors also demanded the seizure of the building that houses the foundation's headquarters.

Suharto, 85, has escaped criminal trials for alleged corruption involving billions of dollars during his rule of Indonesia, which ended in 1998 when he was forced to step down amid protests.

PHOTO CAPTION

Indonesian prosecutors have filed a civil suit against Suharto, seen here in 1998. (AFP)

Al-Jazeera