Soeharto admitted to hospital

JAKARTA (JP): Former president Soeharto was admitted on Tuesday to the privately-run Pertamina Hospital in South Jakarta, due to an uneven heart beat.

Hospital spokeswoman Tuti Dwi Patmayanti said Soeharto, who turned 80 only last Friday, was taken to the hospital at 1:30 p.m. by his two children, second eldest son Bambang Trihatmodjo and youngest daughter Siti Hutami Endang Adiningsih.

When asked about Soeharto's condition, Tuti said the authorized person to make any statements was Soeharto's doctor, neurologist Teguh Ranakusumah.

"We have not yet been given the details, so I think it would be better to ask the doctor directly," Tuti told The Jakarta Post.

Teguh could not be reached for comment.

Unconfirmed reports said that he had collapsed at his Central Jakarta residence.

Col. Maliki Mift, Soeharto's personal assistant, did not confirm the reports but said, "Bapak's health condition now is stable, but since this morning his heart beat has been far slower than usual, and has affected the blood circulating to other organs."

Maliki did not elaborate.

"Doctors are handling him and now he is stable," Maliki told the Post.

Separately, one of Soeharto's lawyers Mohammad Assegaf, also confirmed that Soeharto had been hospitalized, but he refused to confirm speculation that he might have suffered a heart attack.

"I can't give any detailed comments," Assegaf said.

Soeharto, who ruled the country for almost 32 years, has been treated regularly, and has undergone checkups at Pertamina Hospital.

Since his resignation in 1998, the retired army general has been treated at the hospital at least three times for various ailments, including a slight stroke and intestinal bleeding.

Soeharto has also suffered breathing and urinary complications, and underwent an emergency appendectomy at Pertamina Hospital in February.

Many have said that his ailing state of health has so far saved him from being tried for the corruption allegedly committed during his tenure.

His corruption case came up for trial at the South Jakarta District Court last year, but the court refused to try him at that time because of his illness. The Supreme Court then ordered the Attorney General's Office to monitor his state of health and bring him to court when fit. (bby/emf)