Medical team checks Winfried

Medical team checks Winfried

JAKARTA: A team of doctors examined on Monday codefendant in the
Rp 40 billion corruption scandal of the State Logistics Agency
(Bulog), Winfried Simatupang, in an attempt to obtain second
opinion for the state prosecutors to bring the businessman back
to detention.

Cardiologist Hanafi B. Trisnohadi, who leads the team from the
state-owned Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital, said the
examination, which took four hours, would continue on Tuesday.

"The result, including the recommendation on whether Winfried
can resume trial, will be announced on Wednesday," he said.

Winfried, a contractor to the Raudlatul Jannah Foundation, was
a no-show last week in the court examination. Lawyer John K. Azis
said his client was suffering from a coronary heart problem. The
Central Jakarta District Court judges ordered a further check.

The prosecutors insisted on jailing Winfried, should the
doctors find his health problem is not a strong enough reason to
escape trial.

The case centers on the misuse of Bulog's nonbudgetary money
to finance a government project in 1999, that turned out a scam.
It allegedly involved House of Representatives Speaker Akbar
Tandjung and foundation chairman Dadang Sukandar.--JP