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)