Former president Soeharto leaves hospital for home<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Former president Soeharto left the privately-run
\nPertamina Hospital in South Jakarta on Friday morning after three
\ndays of treatment for a heart ailment.<\/p>\n
Pertamina cardiologist Juniarti Hatta said Soeharto was in a
\nstable condition. There were no complications from the minor
\nsurgery he had undergone to install a permanent pacemaker to
\nnormalize his uneven heartbeat, she said.<\/p>\n
\"His condition has returned to normal. The wound from the
\nsurgery has recovered. But he has to return in the next six
\nmonths for a checkup,\" she told a joint media conference at the
\nhospital, an hour after Soeharto had left.<\/p>\n
Head of the state-appointed medical team that treats Soeharto,
\nIchramsjah A. Rahman, added that Soeharto had been allowed to
\nrest at home because the cardiac pacemaker had adapted well to
\nhis body.<\/p>\n
The device, which is as light as a medium-sized battery, is
\nreportedly worth Rp 30 million and can last for ten to 15 years.<\/p>\n
It was set to regulate Soeharto's heartbeat to the normal 70
\nbeats per minute, replacing the external, temporary one which was
\nattached soon after he had been rushed in on Tuesday, suffering
\nfrom a low heartbeat and falling blood pressure.<\/p>\n
However, Juniarti said, the device could be affected by
\nemotional strain or a strong magnetic field. \"I suggest that he
\nrest and relax.\"<\/p>\n
Soeharto, who celebrated his 80th birthday on June 8, was
\nwheeled out of the hospital by some of his children at around
\n9:30 a.m. He smiled and waved to journalists but did not give any
\nother response.<\/p>\n
He was taken home to his residence in Menteng, Central
\nJakarta, in a minivan driven by his eldest son Sigit
\nHarjojudanto, as part of a motorcade.<\/p>\n
His youngest son, Hutomo Mandala Putra, alias Tommy, is still
\nat large after being sentenced by the Supreme Court to 18 months
\nimprisonment for a land scam.<\/p>\n
The ailing former ruler, who was in power for 32 years before
\nhe resigned in 1998, has so far escaped prosecution over
\nallegations of massive corruption.<\/p>\n
The Supreme Court ordered the government to form a special
\nmedical team to observe and treat Soeharto, to ensure that the
\nsuspect was fit enough to be brought to trial.<\/p>\n
Also attending the media conference, state prosecutor Mochtar
\nArifin said the medical team had yet to give its latest report on
\nSoeharto's condition.<\/p>\n
Ichramsjah added that the team still needed more time to
\nmonitor Soeharto's heart condition.<\/p>\n
\"Soeharto does not only have a heart problem, but also suffers
\nfrom other complications, such as diabetes, kidney problems and
\nthe aftermath of stroke. It would be impossible to open the trial
\nin the near future,\" he said.(bby)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/former-president-soeharto-leaves-hospital-for-home-1447893297",
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