Probe into Soeharto's wealth halted

JAKARTA (JP): The Attorney General Office said on Thursday it would halt investigations into alleged corruptions of ailing former president Soeharto until he completely recovered, and would even abort the inquiry if he died.

"The Attorney General Office, in its corruption probe against Soeharto, takes a strict but also humane stance. If Soeharto is sick, the probe will be postponed," said acting Attorney General Ismudjoko as quoted by Antara.

"Even a prisoner, if he gets sick, will be treated well. Moreover this is a former president, and the case against him is still in the (early) stage," Ismudjoko said.

Separately, office spokesman Soehandoyo was quoted by Reuters as saying Suharto's stroke signified the inquiry would be delayed and aborted if he died.

"We will delay the prosecution until he is 100 percent healthy," he told Reuters. "According to article 77 of the Criminal Code, the right of prosecution is aborted if the suspect dies."

Soeharto was admitted to state-owned Pertamina hospital on Tuesday after suffering a mild stroke. Doctors said his condition was gradually improving.

The Attorney General's Office is investigating allegations that Soeharto illegally amassed a US$15 billion fortune during his 32 years of tough, army-backed rule.

The officials' remarks about the postponement of the inquiry, however, were not welcomed by Soeharto's chief lawyer Juan Felix Tampubolon. He said on Thursday afternoon Soeharto's ill health should not be cited as the reason for delay.

"The authorities should link them (ill health and delay). If that is the reason, it's really out of proportion," he said as quoted by Antara. He added investigations regarding his client should have been halted a long while ago, because there was no supporting evidence to the claims of graft.

Tampubolon also said his team continued to press Soeharto's suit against Time magazine for its report about the allegedly ill-gotten wealth. "There's no delay," he said. "They should be responsible for their stories."

Separately, President B.J. Habibie said he wished to visit Soeharto at the hospital, but would only do so if the doctors and Soeharto's children agreed.

"Doctors are considering whether it is now time for President Habibie to visit Pak Harto," Minister of Justice/State Secretary Muladi said, adding that Habibie and Soeharto had "emotional" ties that might affect the latter if the two met.

Muladi said the President, however, monitored Soeharto's condition "second by second, and minute by minute". Muladi said his remarks should dispel any opinions that Habibie was not concerned about Soeharto's health.

Muladi's statement concerning Habibie's request to seek Habibie via permission from Soeharto's children irritated Tampubolon. The lawyer said on Thursday afternoon the Soehartos were open to anyone. "I just don't understand why there should be statements like that."

Meanwhile, doctors at Pertamina hospital said that Soeharto's condition was improving, but that he would be required to spend "several more days to two weeks" to undergo further medical examinations.

"According to a brief report from Pak Harto's medical team, his ability to speak has been improving, his strength is also improving although he still inarticulate," Sudjono Martoatmodjo, director of the hospital, said on Thursday.

"He's still undergoing physiotherapy (exercises) for his hands and feet. He has begun to eat soft food," he added.

Chief of Soeharto's doctors team, Ibrahim Ginting, said later in the afternoon that it was impossible for Soeharto to leave the hospital in the near future as stated by Hamzah Haz, chairman of the United Development Party (PPP).

Hamzah visited Soeharto earlier in the morning and told reporters that the former strongman would probably leave the hospital on Friday.

But Ibrahim insisted his patient still needed a few more days, but not more than two weeks, at the hospital.

"Hopefully Soeharto can sit in a wheelchair by tomorrow (Friday)," he said.

At 10:15 a.m., Soeharto was brought to the hospital's Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) room for a radiology examination.

Dr. Ibrahim Ginting and several medical practitioners escorted the VVIP patient, who was wheeled in on a cot, accompanied by his youngest daughter Siti Hutami "Mamik" Endang Adiningsih.

After 40 minutes in the room, the hospital's radiologist Koenindro Dadi told reporters his team had examined Soeharto's joints, spinal cord and brain.

The MRI examination's purpose was to provide supporting data for Soeharto's team of doctors.

"It's the team who will determine the former president's health condition," he said.

Tampubolon, who was with the former president late Thursday said: "His face is much brighter and ... he could smile. He could sit on his bed, but doctors always prevented him from doing so."

"I hope he can leave the hospital by tomorrow," he told The Jakarta Post.

Tampubolon said Soeharto's daughter Siti Hediyati Prabowo had visited her father on Thursday afternoon, after a long flight from Boston, in the United States. (04/asa/prb/swe)