Ginandjar admitted to hospital, evades questioning

Ginandjar admitted to hospital, evades questioning

JAKARTA (JP): Former minister of mines and energy Ginandjar
Kartasasmita was admitted to a hospital on Thursday, canceling a
planned questioning session at the Attorney General's Office.

While refusing to reveal the illness, doctors at the Pertamina
Hospital in South Jakarta said Ginandjar would have to rest for
five days.

"We have advised him to stay in hospital for at least five
days. During that period, he will receive intensive therapy and
therefore can not be questioned," Soemarno, an internist who was
among doctors examining Ginandjar, said.

Ginandjar was given a VIP room on the sixth floor, the same
floor where former president Soeharto was once treated.

People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) deputy speaker Ginandjar
was supposed to be quizzed as a suspect on Thursday in a
corruption case involving state oil and gas company Pertamina and
PT Ustraindo Petro Gas, which allegedly resulted in US$24.8
million in state losses.

It should have been his first query as suspect because on
Tuesday he testified on his successor Ida Bagus Sudjana, former
Pertamina president Faisal Abda'oe and PT Ustraindo director
Praptono H. Upojo, who have all been named suspects.

Ginandjar complained about his health on Wednesday when he
said his left arm felt numb during a questioning session he
eventually abandoned without permission.

Accompanied by his lawyers O.C. Kaligis, Muhammad Assegaf and
Muchyar Yara and several military officers, Ginandjar underwent
medical examination for three-and-a-half hours in Pertamina
Hospital on Thursday.

He first had his ears, nose and throat checked before doctors
examined his nervous system and chest muscles.

After the examination was completed at around 2:30 p.m.,
Ginandjar said that doctors advised him to take a rest and remain
hospitalized.

"I wish I could be treated at home, but the decision is up to
the doctors," he told reporters.

Internist Soemarno confirmed that Ginandjar was ill, but
refused to elaborate for the sake of medical confidentiality.

Ginandjar said he was willing to resume his questioning as
soon as he recovers.

He complained about the prosecutors' negligence when he asked
for a break to go to hospital.

"If they could do that to me (treat him unfairly), they could
do that to anyone," he said emotionally.

Head of the investigation team Barman Zahir said on Wednesday
his team had offered Attorney General's Office doctors to examine
Ginandjar, but the latter refused, saying he preferred his
private doctor.

Barman said he then called Ginandjar's doctor, but Ginandjar
left before the doctor arrived.

In response to Ginandjar's query, MPR speaker Amien Rais
underlined the importance of ensuring Ginandjar received fair
treatment.

"My concern is that the legal process should operate in a
proper way and there should be no political motive behind
Ginandjar's case," Amien announced on Thursday.

Ginandjar is MPR deputy speaker representing Golkar Party.

Seperately the head of the Indonesian Military (TNI)'s Legal
Aid Body Maj. Gen. Timor P. Manurung said the Attorney General's
Office had not received approval from the TNI chief to question
Ginandjar as a suspect.

"The TNI chief has (only) allowed Ginandjar to be summoned as
a witness," he stressed.

"The Attorney General Office just delivered a letter asking
for the TNI chief's approval to question Ginandjar as a suspect
on Wednesday night. It was too late by then," Timor told
reporters.(02/hdn/dja)