Questioning of key abortion suspect to resume

JAKARTA (JP): Police resumed questioning yesterday the suspect in the controversial abortion practices probe who attempted to commit suicide.

City Police chief Maj. Gen. Hamami Nata said that Doctor Budiman had recovered sufficiently to be interrogated again.

"He seemed to be all right and ready to be questioned again. We have medics and psychologists on hand at the questioning session," he told reporters.

Hamami said that it was fine for Budiman to ask for time to rest during the sessions if he needed it.

Budiman, an obstetrician and gynecologist, slit both wrists with a razor blade on Dec. 3 after getting permission from interrogators to go to the toilet during a questioning session at the City Police Headquarters.

Budiman is one of 16 suspects, including another obstetrician and gynecologist Lt. Col. Jaya Lelana who was detained by the Military Police, who have been arrested on suspicion of being involved in illegal abortion practices at two clinics, the Fajar Pengharapan and Amalia in Tanah Tinggi, North Jakarta.

The doctor was rushed to the Dr. Mintohardjo Navy Hospital in South Jakarta for emergency surgery and then moved to the Kramat Jati Police Hospital in East Jakarta the next day.

Doctors at the Navy hospital warned their colleagues at the Police hospital to take special care of Budiman because of his depression.

Doctors predicted that it would take ten days before Budiman would be ready to continue the questioning. But they did not dare to predict the time needed for the doctor's mental wounds to heal.

Budiman's lawyer Ruhut Sitompul said yesterday that his client was still receiving medical treatment at the hospital.

"His condition is getting better but he still needs medical attention which he might not have if he were detained at the police station," he said.

Ruhut said that Budiman still needed more attention, especially in connection with his mental state.

"He is still depressed," he said.

The head of the hospital had given the police permission to continue the interrogation, he said.

"Fortunately, Budiman was all right and calm during today's interrogation," Ruhut said.

He said Budiman was taken to the police headquarters only for the questioning session and then driven back to the hospital.

He said the interrogation started at around 11 a.m. and finished after 5 p.m.

Hamami said his officers would continue their investigation into all the arrested suspects and look for more information from witnesses and experts to help clarify the case.

"As to Budiman, we'll proceed with the investigation into him as long as there are witnesses and sufficient hard evidence which can be used to prove his guilt," he said. (cst)