JAKARTA - FIVE of late Indonesian president Suharto's six children have appointed lawyers for their defence in a civil graft case that was originally filed against their father, a court heard on Tuesday.

The government had been seeking US$1.4 billion (S$1.97 billion) in damages and returned assets allegedly embezzled by Suharto from a charity he once chaired when he died last month. The case alleges Suharto oversaw the misallocation of money intended for student scholarships.

'The heirs have appointed us as their representatives in this case,' said lawyer Juan Felix Tampubolon as he presented the appointment document to the court.

But he said that Tommy Suharto, the youngest son in the family who has been jailed in the past for a murder conspiracy, had refused to sign.

Mr Tampubolon said that Suharto's eldest son, Sigit Hardjojudanto, requested that the panel of judges hear an expert witness argue that Indonesian law does not stipulate that the heirs must take over the case.

Judge Wahjono said the expert could be called at the next hearing on March 4.

The court had earlier warned that if Suharto's children did not appoint lawyers they would effectively give up the right to defend themselves and the case would continue to a conclusion anyway.

Suharto died without ever facing criminal prosecution over allegations that he oversaw massive corruption during his more than three-decade rule that benefited his family and cronies.

A criminal trial against him was abandoned on health grounds.