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.