Soeharto banned from travel<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Attorney General's Office announced on
\nWednesday that former president Soeharto is barred from leaving
\nthe country while the investigation into his alleged corruption
\ncase is being conducted.<\/p>\n
Director of Corruption Affairs Chaerul Imam said on Wednesday
\nthat the travel restriction was imposed in order to simplify the
\ninvestigation process.<\/p>\n
\"The ban is to ensure that Soeharto could fulfill every
\nsummons and be met with at any time,\" Chaerul told journalists.<\/p>\n
He said that the ban was made in anticipation of news that
\nSoeharto's family had planned to take the former ruler abroad for
\nfurther medical treatment.<\/p>\n
\"I heard the news from the radio just recently, along with
\nHead of Jakarta Court Luqman Bahmid. The Attorney General's
\nOffice doesn't want it to happen, otherwise it would hamper the
\ninvestigation,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Rumors had been rife that Soeharto's family had recently
\napplied for U.S. visas and had bought a house in the United
\nStates.<\/p>\n
A source from the embassy told The Jakarta Post that the
\ncountry will reject any visiting permit applied for by a person
\nwho violates the law, is under a travel ban or has a record of
\nmisuse.<\/p>\n
Chaerul said the travel restriction took effect on Wednesday
\nand could be extended after six months if necessary. He added
\nthat a letter informing him of the ban had been delivered to
\nSoeharto.<\/p>\n
But one of Soeharto's lawyers, Juan Felix Tampubolon, said as
\nof 8 p.m. that neither he nor his colleagues had received the
\nnotification.<\/p>\n
Juan regretted the issuance of the travel ban, saying that
\nSoeharto had never intended to go abroad.<\/p>\n
\"It is arrogance, not judicial concerns, that have led the
\nAttorney General's Office to the decision to issue the travel
\nban. It's just baseless,\" Juan told reporters upon leaving his
\noffice at the Global Building on Jl. Gatot Subroto, South
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
Juan admitted, however, that certain parties whom he refused
\nto identify had offered Soeharto assistance if he wished to seek
\nmedical treatment abroad.<\/p>\n
\"But Pak Harto turned down the offer, saying adequate medical
\ntreatment could be found in Indonesia,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He added that Soeharto's team of lawyers would meet on
\nThursday to discuss the travel ban.<\/p>\n
Soeharto was declared unfit to resume questioning on Monday by
\nan independent team of doctors from Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital
\n(RSCM). Supardi Sudibyo, the team's leader, suggested that the
\nAttorney General's Office order a more comprehensive medical test
\non Soeharto before the questioning resumes.<\/p>\n
Chaerul Imam said on Wednesday his office was considering
\nproviding Soeharto with free medical treatment as suggested by
\nthe Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association recently.<\/p>\n
\"It depends on the RSCM doctors. If they ask the Attorney
\nGeneral's Office to give Soeharto medical care, we will do so. No
\nproblem,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Soeharto was questioned at his residence early this month
\nafter he failed on three prior occasions to answer a summons for
\nquestioning, citing medical reasons.<\/p>\n
The initial questioning on April 3 was stopped after 90
\nminutes and another round of questioning on April 10 was
\nabandoned upon the request of doctors.<\/p>\n
The latest medical assessment of his psychological state
\nrevealed that Soeharto was losing his ability and eagerness to
\nrespond. (01)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/soeharto-banned-from-travel-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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