Doctors fail to appear for Soeharto's checkup
Doctors fail to appear for Soeharto's checkup
JAKARTA (JP): A team of doctors appointed by the Attorney
General's office failed to turn up for a re-examination of former
president Soeharto on Monday.
Spokesman for the Attorney General's office, Soehandoyo, said
that the team was still reviewing Soeharto's previous medical
report.
"The medical team only received the previous report on
Soeharto's health today and preparations (for the reexamination)
are still underway," Soehandoyo told The Jakarta Post.
Soehandoyo gave no date for the re-examination of Soeharto,
whose doctors claimed that he was medically unfit to face
questioning into his alleged corruption during 32 years in
office.
Attorney General Marzuki Darusman said on Saturday a team of
doctors appointed by the Attorney General's office would examine
the former ruler at his residence on Monday.
Several reporters and cameramen were seen waiting at
Soeharto's house on Jl. Cendana in Central Jakarta for the team
to arrive.
Soeharto has been named a suspect by the Attorney General's
office, overruling a decision by Marzuki's predecessor,
Ismudjoko, who suspended investigation into the high-profile case
due to lack of evidence last October.
Separately, the deputy attorney general for corruption Chairul
Imam told Antara that the medical team comprises six or seven
doctors coordinated by Dr. Hendra.
Chairul kept the identity of the doctors secret in order "to
enable them to work undisturbed".
Meanwhile, one of Soeharto's defense lawyers, Juan Felix
Tampubolon, said that the Attorney General's office had yet to
notify their client of the planned visit.
"We have not been notified and I believe that the Attorney
General's office would not contemplate this without our
permission," Tampubolon told the Post.
Tampubolon, however, has repeatedly pleaded that his client is
medically unfit to undergo questioning.
Two weeks ago the 78-year-old former strongman failed to
answer a summons at the Attorney General's office.
U.S. business magazine Forbes last year estimated Soeharto's
family fortune at some US$ 4 billion. Time magazine, which
Soeharto has sued, has put the figure at about US$ 15
billion.(byg)