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)