National Police dismiss doctor's assessment of Nurdin Halid
National Police dismiss doctor's assessment of Nurdin Halid
Abdul Khalik, Jakarta
A senior Police investigator rebuffed on Monday a medical
consultant to the National Police who claimed Nurdin Halid was
fit enough to be interrogated as a suspect.
Nurdin, chairman of the Confederation of Primary Cooperatives
Association (Inkud), has been named a suspect in a case involving
illegal sugar imports.
National Police director of economic crimes Brig. Gen. Ismoko
insisted Nurdin needed to stay in hospital and was too sick to be
placed under police custody.
"Just go to the hospital and check for yourself. We will
detain him as soon as he regains his health," said Ismoko.
The doctor, who requested anonymity, said he had personally
checked official records on Nurdin's medical exam at Pertamina
Hospital, and could not understand why police had admitted the
suspect at Sukanto Police Hospital, East Jakarta.
"Nothing is wrong with Nurdin. His lungs, heart and kidneys
are in good condition. The report says he is merely tired," he
said.
Police declared Nurdin a suspect last Friday in the illegal
importation of 73,000 tons of sugar upon preliminary charges
that, as Inkud chairman, he should have been aware of the
activity.
It was reported earlier that Nurdin was detained immediately
after the announcement, but police said on Saturday Nurdin could
not be taken into custody because he was hospitalized.
They also announced Nurdin's detention had been canceled
because of his health, but that he would be questioned as soon as
he recovered.
Nurdin was admitted initially to Pertamina Hospital, South
Jakarta, but was later transferred to the police hospital in
Kramat Jati.
Kadir Halid confirmed that his brother Nurdin was in the
hospital with several health complications.
"My brother is seriously ill because he has had very little
sleep recently. He has a headache, back pains and heartache. He
must take a long rest before he can undergo police questioning,"
said Kadir.
Later on Saturday, the police admitted another suspect in the
case, Abdul Waris Halid -- another brother -- to the same police
hospital.
"Abdul is on the way to the hospital under police escort,
because a doctor said he is too ill to be placed in police
detention," said his lawyer Irianto Baso Ence.
A legal expert at the University of Indonesia, Luhut M.
Pangaribuan, alleged that suspects often used their health as an
excuse to elude the legal process.
"We have seen many cases like this. After a while, the public
will forget the case and the suspect can quietly walk free," said
Luhut.
The most high-profile suspect who has been spared
interrogation for health reasons is former president Soeharto,
who was charged with corruption following his ouster in 1998. He
has been immune to prosecution since a medical team declared him
in 2000 too ill to face trial, saying a recent stroke had left
him "brain damaged".
However, he was widely photographed casting a ballot on July 5
with his signature smile.
Abdul Khalik, Jakarta
A senior Police investigator rebuffed on Monday a medical
consultant to the National Police who claimed Nurdin Halid was
fit enough to be interrogated as a suspect.
Nurdin, chairman of the Confederation of Primary Cooperatives
Association (Inkud), has been named a suspect in a case involving
illegal sugar imports.
National Police director of economic crimes Brig. Gen. Ismoko
insisted Nurdin needed to stay in hospital and was too sick to be
placed under police custody.
"Just go to the hospital and check for yourself. We will
detain him as soon as he regains his health," said Ismoko.
The doctor, who requested anonymity, said he had personally
checked official records on Nurdin's medical exam at Pertamina
Hospital, and could not understand why police had admitted the
suspect at Sukanto Police Hospital, East Jakarta.
"Nothing is wrong with Nurdin. His lungs, heart and kidneys
are in good condition. The report says he is merely tired," he
said.
Police declared Nurdin a suspect last Friday in the illegal
importation of 73,000 tons of sugar upon preliminary charges
that, as Inkud chairman, he should have been aware of the
activity.
It was reported earlier that Nurdin was detained immediately
after the announcement, but police said on Saturday Nurdin could
not be taken into custody because he was hospitalized.
They also announced Nurdin's detention had been canceled
because of his health, but that he would be questioned as soon as
he recovered.
Nurdin was admitted initially to Pertamina Hospital, South
Jakarta, but was later transferred to the police hospital in
Kramat Jati.
Kadir Halid confirmed that his brother Nurdin was in the
hospital with several health complications.
"My brother is seriously ill because he has had very little
sleep recently. He has a headache, back pains and heartache. He
must take a long rest before he can undergo police questioning,"
said Kadir.
Later on Saturday, the police admitted another suspect in the
case, Abdul Waris Halid -- another brother -- to the same police
hospital.
"Abdul is on the way to the hospital under police escort,
because a doctor said he is too ill to be placed in police
detention," said his lawyer Irianto Baso Ence.
A legal expert at the University of Indonesia, Luhut M.
Pangaribuan, alleged that suspects often used their health as an
excuse to elude the legal process.
"We have seen many cases like this. After a while, the public
will forget the case and the suspect can quietly walk free," said
Luhut.
The most high-profile suspect who has been spared
interrogation for health reasons is former president Soeharto,
who was charged with corruption following his ouster in 1998. He
has been immune to prosecution since a medical team declared him
in 2000 too ill to face trial, saying a recent stroke had left
him "brain damaged".
However, he was widely photographed casting a ballot on July 5
with his signature smile.