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)