Distressed Soeharto leaves Pertamina hospital

JAKARTA (JP): Former president Soeharto left the hospital on Friday even though not fully recovered from his appendectomy.

The court-appointed a team of physicians from the Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital (RSCM) initially prohibited Soeharto from checking out of the hospital, but the patient insisted on returning home, chief prosecutor Muchtar Arifin, who is handling the case against Soeharto, said.

Soeharto, the defendant in a US$571 million graft case, was allowed to go home as he was suffering "emotional distress" during his stay at the hospital, which in turn affected his physical condition.

"His blood pressure kept on increasing and he became short of breath as a result. So the doctors suggested that we let him be treated at his house, where he feels at home and comfortable," Muchtar told journalists at his office.

Soeharto, who will turn 80 this year, checked into the Pertamina Hospital in South Jakarta on Feb. 24.

A 23-member team of physicians from the RSCM took over the treatment of Soeharto on Feb. 28 following the Supreme Court's ruling last month ordering state prosecutors to ensure that Soeharto was fit enough to face trial, if at all possible.

Beginning next week, Soeharto's medical expenses will be covered by the state, as stipulated in the Supreme Court ruling.

Soeharto has suffered three strokes since stepping down in the middle of 1998.

The former strongman has been charged with amassing wealth at the expense of the state and channeling the funds to his family and cronies. Last year, the South Jakarta District Court dropped the case because it found that the defendant was too ill to stand trial.

Muchtar said that the RSCM doctors would coordinate with Soeharto's private doctors regarding his medical treatment and would issue a progress report on the patient every two weeks.

Should Soeharto's health further deteriorate, the RSCM team will likely send the patient not to the RSCM, but rather to the Pertamina hospital where Soeharto always goes to seek medical attention and where security is better.

"As soon as the doctors declare Soeharto fit, or even if he is declared fit with certain caveats, we will ask the court to reopen the trial," he said, adding that the prosecutors were closely monitoring Soeharto's condition. (bby)