Doctors check Soeharto's health

JAKARTA: The state-appointed medical team resumed the health examination of former president Soeharto on Friday to determine whether or not the former ruler was fit enough to stand trial.

Head of the South Jakarta Prosecutor's Office Poerwanto told reporters on Friday that the team, led by Akmal Taher, had carried out a neurological and psychiatric examination of the former strongman.

"We will make public the results of the examination after we have obtained approval from Soeharto's family," Poerwanto told reporters.

The first examination was carried out last Tuesday, following a report saying that Soeharto appeared to be good health while attending his granddaughter's wedding party last month.

Soeharto has been charged with swindling US$571 million of state funds. The case was dropped in September 2000 because he failed to appear in the courtroom, allegedly due to ill-health, his doctors declaring him to be mentally and physically unfit for trial.

Soeharto, now 81, has suffered a number of strokes since resigning in May 1998. --JP