Soeharto questioning cut short<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The initial questioning of former president
\nSoeharto for alleged corruption during his 32-year rule was cut
\nshort on Monday for medical reasons.<\/p>\n
A joint team of doctors advised five visiting prosecutors from
\nthe Attorney General's Office to cease the questioning after 90
\nminutes due to the rising blood pressure and irregular heartbeat
\nof Soeharto, 78. He had answered two questions when the session
\nwas halted.<\/p>\n
Soeharto was questioned at his home on Jl. Cendana in the
\nexclusive Menteng residential area of Central Jakarta. The
\nprosecutors, led by Patua Siahaan, brought with them a video
\ncamera, personal computer and printer.<\/p>\n
Spokesman for the joint medical team Supardi Sudibyo, who is
\nthe vice director for medical services at Cipto Mangunkusumo
\nHospital (RSCM), said Soeharto appeared exhausted during
\nquestioning.<\/p>\n
\"Should the procedure have been forced to continue, it would
\nhave been risky given his condition.\"<\/p>\n
He said the medical team complied with general guidelines
\nconcerning care of elderly people with a history of stroke.
\nSoeharto was hospitalized for a stroke last year and on another
\noccasion for intestinal bleeding.<\/p>\n
\"The guidelines were infringed upon when Soeharto's blood
\npressure rose to 180\/110 and the electronic cardiogram showed
\nthat his heartbeat was erratic,\" Supardi said.<\/p>\n
One of Soeharto's lawyers, Juan Felix Tampubolon, said his
\nclient's increased blood pressure and uneven breathing indicated
\nhis discomfort during the questioning.<\/p>\n
The Attorney General's Office had not set a schedule to resume
\nthe questioning as of Tuesday.<\/p>\n
\"Attorney General Marzuki Darusman himself will announce the
\ndate and the details of the resumption of the investigation,\"
\nspokesman for the Attorney General's Office Soehandoyo told The
\nJakarta Post on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Prosecutor Purnama Munthe, who supervised the questioning,
\nsaid the Attorney General's Office was awaiting the medical
\nteam's approval to resume the questioning.<\/p>\n
\"We're not satisfied with the suspect's answers ... the
\nquestioning is to be continued,\" Purnama said outside Soeharto's
\nresidence.<\/p>\n
He said the questioning focused on the use of funds of three
\nfoundations established and controlled by Soeharto, who
\napparently understood the substance of the questions.<\/p>\n
\"Soeharto was able to answer in complete sentences. The
\nprosecutors fully understood his answers,\" Purnama said.<\/p>\n
Wearing a long-sleeved batik shirt, Soeharto was questioned in
\nthe living room, accompanied by his eldest daughter Siti \"Tutut\"
\nHardijanti Rukmana, four of his lawyers, his private medical team
\nand the five state-appointed doctors from RSCM.<\/p>\n
Purnama said the questioning proceeded slowly, with the first
\nquestion divided into seven parts. He said Soeharto answered each
\nbriefly.<\/p>\n
Soeharto also could answer the second question clearly, which
\nhis lawyers and the doctors termed more complicated than the
\nfirst, Purnama added.<\/p>\n
After he answered the second question, the doctors checked
\nSoeharto's pulse and heartbeat twice. \"Before we got into the
\nthird question, the doctors forced us to halt the questioning,\"
\nPurnama said.<\/p>\n
The deputy attorney general for special crimes Antasari Azhar
\nsaid his team would again summon Soeharto.<\/p>\n
\"We'll see whether the team would go to the suspect's
\nresidence or ask him to appear at the Attorney General's Office.
\nIt's up to the medical team's advice,\" he told the Post.<\/p>\n
Soeharto has failed on three summonses for questioning since
\nthe investigation into alleged corruption was reopened in
\nDecember.<\/p>\n
His legal team argued Soeharto was physically and mentally
\nunfit for questioning, saying he was unable to communicate
\nproperly.<\/p>\n
Marzuki said a medical checkup by a team from RSCM last month
\nshowed Soeharto was able to undergo questioning. (01)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/soeharto-questioning-cut-short-1447893297",
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