Probe into Soeharto's wealth halted

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)