Prosecutors deny ignoring Attorney General's order

Prosecutors deny ignoring Attorney General's order

JAKARTA (JP): Prosecutors denied on Tuesday reports that they
were disobeying Attorney General Marzuki Darusman's order to send
a medical team to examine former president Soeharto's health at
his house on Monday.

"There is no such thing as that because we all also want to
carry out our duty and we also want to see some progress," the
Attorney General's Office spokesman, Soehandoyo, told The Jakarta
Post on Tuesday.

Soehandoyo acknowledged, however, that Marzuki's subordinates
were not quick enough to carry out instructions.

"Marzuki Darusman has come forth with a strategic decision and
(his subordinates) should be able to immediately execute that
strategic decision," Soehandoyo said.

Despite Marzuki's order, the state-appointed team of doctors
failed to turn up at the former ruler's residence on Monday.

Soehandoyo reiterated on Tuesday that the team was still
studying Soeharto's medical report.

The team was set up to verify a medical report issued by the
former ruler's doctors.

Soeharto has been named a suspect by the Attorney General's
Office in a revived probe into alleged corruption during his 32-
year rule.

Soeharto's lawyers, however, have repeatedly pleaded that
their client is medically unfit to undergo questioning.

Two weeks ago the 78-year-old former strongman failed to
answer a summons to appear at the Attorney General's Office.

Soeharto's half brother, businessman Probosutedjo, told
private television station SCTV recently that the former
president could take walks and practice golf strokes but "his
nervous system is damaged".

Probosutedjo said Soeharto could not talk properly and that
his memory "was not like it was before".

President Abdurrahman Wahid, under whose administration the
charges were revived, has made it clear that if Soeharto were
convicted, he would ask him to reimburse the state, but not send
him to jail.

U.S. business magazine Forbes estimated last year Soeharto's
family fortune at some US$4 billion. Time magazine, which
Soeharto is suing, has put the figure at about US$15 billion.
(byg)