Former president Soeharto leaves hospital for home

Former president Soeharto leaves hospital for home

JAKARTA (JP): Former president Soeharto left the privately-run
Pertamina Hospital in South Jakarta on Friday morning after three
days of treatment for a heart ailment.

Pertamina cardiologist Juniarti Hatta said Soeharto was in a
stable condition. There were no complications from the minor
surgery he had undergone to install a permanent pacemaker to
normalize his uneven heartbeat, she said.

"His condition has returned to normal. The wound from the
surgery has recovered. But he has to return in the next six
months for a checkup," she told a joint media conference at the
hospital, an hour after Soeharto had left.

Head of the state-appointed medical team that treats Soeharto,
Ichramsjah A. Rahman, added that Soeharto had been allowed to
rest at home because the cardiac pacemaker had adapted well to
his body.

The device, which is as light as a medium-sized battery, is
reportedly worth Rp 30 million and can last for ten to 15 years.

It was set to regulate Soeharto's heartbeat to the normal 70
beats per minute, replacing the external, temporary one which was
attached soon after he had been rushed in on Tuesday, suffering
from a low heartbeat and falling blood pressure.

However, Juniarti said, the device could be affected by
emotional strain or a strong magnetic field. "I suggest that he
rest and relax."

Soeharto, who celebrated his 80th birthday on June 8, was
wheeled out of the hospital by some of his children at around
9:30 a.m. He smiled and waved to journalists but did not give any
other response.

He was taken home to his residence in Menteng, Central
Jakarta, in a minivan driven by his eldest son Sigit
Harjojudanto, as part of a motorcade.

His youngest son, Hutomo Mandala Putra, alias Tommy, is still
at large after being sentenced by the Supreme Court to 18 months
imprisonment for a land scam.

The ailing former ruler, who was in power for 32 years before
he resigned in 1998, has so far escaped prosecution over
allegations of massive corruption.

The Supreme Court ordered the government to form a special
medical team to observe and treat Soeharto, to ensure that the
suspect was fit enough to be brought to trial.

Also attending the media conference, state prosecutor Mochtar
Arifin said the medical team had yet to give its latest report on
Soeharto's condition.

Ichramsjah added that the team still needed more time to
monitor Soeharto's heart condition.

"Soeharto does not only have a heart problem, but also suffers
from other complications, such as diabetes, kidney problems and
the aftermath of stroke. It would be impossible to open the trial
in the near future," he said.(bby)