Doctor explains Soeharto's health test

Doctor explains Soeharto's health test

JAKARTA (JP): A senior member of the private medical team of
former president Soeharto, Teguh A.S. Ranakusuma, insisted that
his team of doctors had never recommended that Soeharto not
appear at his trial on corruption charges.

"Our medical reports have never stated that the former
president would not be able to face a trial due to his
illnesses," Teguh told reporters during a heart and brain
symposium here on Saturday.

"Our recommendations (in the reports) have never indicated
that Soeharto could not be tried. We (doctors) could never think
of stopping a court from getting a defendant to appear before
it," he said on private television station ANteve in its evening
news report on Sunday.

The leader of the 23-member private team of doctors, Teguh
said that the doctors' medical opinion should not have been
regarded by the trial's panel of judges at the Aug. 31
preliminary hearing as a "final judgment, stating whether the
defendant could appear in court or not."

Teguh added that at the preliminary hearing, he felt it was
made to look as if the doctors had suggested that Soeharto could
not attend the trial.

"As if it was based on our decision, that the defendant could
not attend the trial. It's not that way," Teguh insisted.

Soeharto is alleged to have misused some Rp 1.4 trillion and
some US$416 million of public funds which were under the control
of the seven charitable foundations he ran, by channeling them to
the businesses of his family and friends.

The judges have slated Thursday this week for a hearing to
listen to the explanations from both of the medical teams
assessing Soeharto's health.

Under Indonesian law a defendant has to be present at the
opening session of his trial to hear the reading out of the
indictment, and can only be represented by lawyers in later
sessions.

Contacted on Sunday evening, Soeharto's defense lawyer Juan
Felix Tampubolon said he was shocked by the doctor's statement,
saying that his remarks were "unbelievable".

"He has always supported us. This man (Teguh) hardly ever
gives interviews. How could he say such a thing in this
interview?" Juan told The Jakarta Post.

Medical reports on Soeharto had earlier convinced judges of
the South Jakarta District Court to adjourn his trial. His
lawyers had repeatedly claimed that their client was unfit to
attend the preliminary hearing.

Lawyer Juan said his 79-year-old client, who has suffered
three strokes in the past, had a deplorable bill of health.

"He could suffer a fourth stroke, due to a variety of reasons
including advanced age, hypertension, heart problems, kidney
failure, kidney stones, diabetes, and other illnesses," Juan told
the hearing, quoting official medical report No.
03/TDHMS/VIII/2000 which was signed by Teguh.

No problem

Separately on Saturday, Attorney General Marzuki Darusman said
that there should not be a problem for the ailing former
president, Soeharto, to attend the trial of his alleged
corruption as he is fit enough to appear in the "courtroom".

"His presence in court will not do any harm to him as he can
just sit, listen and shake or nod his head when responding to the
panel of judges' questions," Marzuki said, as quoted by Antara,
while addressing the inauguration ceremony of a new building at
Surabaya University's School of Law in Surabaya.

He said the ongoing polemic over the necessity to hold a trial
in absentia for Soeharto showed that the public was concerned
about the matter.

"However, the decision to continue the trial in Soeharto's
absence will rest on the panel of judges of the South Jakarta
District Court.

Following Soeharto's failure to attend the initial trial, many
people have suggested he be tried in absentia to ensure the
continuity of the trial of the alleged graft, which also has the
potential to implicate the former ruler's family and cronies,
even his absence.

Commenting on Soeharto's current intelligence quotient, which
is below normal, which can be used as an excuse to avoid or annul
the trial, Marzuki said it would not be considered an obstacle
for the trial.

He, however, admitted that the legal solution would not be
sufficient to meet the people's aspirations with regard to
Soeharto's alleged graft. "A political solution is also needed."

"If the court finds him guilty, the government can give him
(Soeharto) an amnesty if he is willing to return the state's
money which he had allegedly amassed during his 32-year reign,"
he added. (ylt/bby)