Soeharto to be reexamined: AGO<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Attorney General's Office (AGO) has gathered a new medical
\nteam to examine former president Soeharto's health to determine
\nwhether or not it could resume investigations into his alleged
\ncorruption.<\/p>\n
\"The Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital (RSCM) formed the team last
\nweek and we will discuss when to carry out the examination as
\nsoon as possible,\" AGO spokesman Kiemas Yahya Rahman told The
\nJakarta Post on Monday.<\/p>\n
\"We have sent (on Monday) a letter informing (Soeharto's)
\nfamily and his lawyers about the planned medical exam for the
\nformer president,\" said Kiemas.<\/p>\n
He would not reveal the number of team members or their names.<\/p>\n
\"We cannot disclose the names of the doctors, but the
\nexamination will be carried out as soon as possible,\" Kiemas
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Calls for reopening Soeharto's corruption case resurfaced
\nafter he had a private meeting with former Malaysian prime
\nminister Mahathir Mohamad over the weekend.<\/p>\n
The 30-minute meeting, took place at Soeharto's residence in
\nMenteng, Central Jakarta, and again triggered suggestions that
\nSoeharto was physically healthy and able to undergo a legal
\ninvestigation.<\/p>\n
One of Soeharto's aides, who refused to identify himself,
\nclaimed that although the former president had difficulties in
\nspeaking, he could understand questions from Mahathir.<\/p>\n
Soeharto, who was forced to resign on May 20, 1998 after
\nleading the country for more than three decades, has been accused
\nof enriching himself, family and cronies by embezzling more than
\nUS$600 million worth of state funds laundered through dozens of
\nhis tax-free foundations.<\/p>\n
A team of medical doctors from RSCM -- the same hospital that
\nwill carry this next exam -- declared in August 2002 that
\nSoeharto was suffering from permanent brain damage due to several
\nminor strokes.<\/p>\n
Because of the brain damage, Soeharto was said to have a total
\nor partial loss of ability to use and understand words.<\/p>\n
However, the former strongman was seen standing on his own
\nwith a big smile, apparently the picture of health for man his
\nage, on Saturday while visiting with his old friend Mahathir.<\/p>\n
Additionally, last year, Soeharto also visited his youngest
\nson Hutomo \"Tommy\" Mandala Putra twice at Nusakambangan prison
\nisland off Java, where Tommy is serving a 15-year sentence for
\nordering the murder of a Supreme Court judge.<\/p>\n
Soeharto's eldest daughter Siti \"Tutut\" Hardijanti Rukmana,
\nmeanwhile, said on Friday that it was up to the government and
\nthe AGO to decide whether or not her father would undergo a new
\nround of investigations.<\/p>\n
She, however, stressed that her father had been examined by
\nthe best medical minds this country had to offer.<\/p>\n
\"He has been examined by many doctors in the country, and some
\nof them are professors. Does their expertise not mean anything?\"
\nTutut, a presidential candidate herself, wondered rhetorically.<\/p>\n
She insisted that the results of the examinations were clear
\nand he could not stand trial because of his speaking ability.<\/p>\n
\"But, the family will leave this matter to the Attorney
\nGeneral's Office and the government,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Soeharto's Legal Journey<\/p>\n
May 21, 1998: Soeharto steps down<\/p>\n
Sept. 25, 1998: Soeharto authorizes prosecutors to find his
\nalleged overseas deposits and assets<\/p>\n
Nov. 22, 1998: Soeharto hands over his seven tax-free charity
\nfoundations to the state<\/p>\n
Dec. 2, 1998: President B.J. Habibie issues an instruction to
\nprobe Soeharto's wealth<\/p>\n
Dec. 9, 1998: Soeharto is questioned for the first time,
\nreportedly for four hours<\/p>\n
Jan. 12, 1999: Prosecutors reveal indications that Soeharto
\nviolated the law in amassing his millions<\/p>\n
May. 31, 1999: Minister of Justice Muladi and Attorney General
\nAndi M. Ghalib travel to Switzerland and Austria to trace
\nSoeharto's assets. Upon returning to Indonesia, they say they
\nhave found no Soeharto assets or deposits in the two countries<\/p>\n
Dec. 7, 1999: Soeharto is named as a suspect in corruption cases<\/p>\n
Apr. 13, 2000: Soeharto is placed under city arrest.<\/p>\n
Sept. 21, 2000: South Jakarta District Court decides to stop
\nSoeharto's case due to the defendant's poor health<\/p>\n
Nov.10, 2000: Jakarta High Court annulled the decision of
\ndistrict court.<\/p>\n
Feb.6, 2001: Supreme Court rules in favor of Soeharto to stop
\nlegal proceedings due to poor health<\/p>\n
Dec. 11, 2001: The Supreme Court states that a trial cannot be
\nheld due to his worsening health condition<\/p>\n
Dec. 21, 2001: President Megawati Soekarnoputri mentioned a
\npossible pardon of Soeharto<\/p>\n
Aug. 12, 2002: Soeharto declared unfit for trial by doctors from
\nRSCM<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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