Soeharto banned from travel
Soeharto banned from travel
JAKARTA (JP): The Attorney General's Office announced on
Wednesday that former president Soeharto is barred from leaving
the country while the investigation into his alleged corruption
case is being conducted.
Director of Corruption Affairs Chaerul Imam said on Wednesday
that the travel restriction was imposed in order to simplify the
investigation process.
"The ban is to ensure that Soeharto could fulfill every
summons and be met with at any time," Chaerul told journalists.
He said that the ban was made in anticipation of news that
Soeharto's family had planned to take the former ruler abroad for
further medical treatment.
"I heard the news from the radio just recently, along with
Head of Jakarta Court Luqman Bahmid. The Attorney General's
Office doesn't want it to happen, otherwise it would hamper the
investigation," he said.
Rumors had been rife that Soeharto's family had recently
applied for U.S. visas and had bought a house in the United
States.
A source from the embassy told The Jakarta Post that the
country will reject any visiting permit applied for by a person
who violates the law, is under a travel ban or has a record of
misuse.
Chaerul said the travel restriction took effect on Wednesday
and could be extended after six months if necessary. He added
that a letter informing him of the ban had been delivered to
Soeharto.
But one of Soeharto's lawyers, Juan Felix Tampubolon, said as
of 8 p.m. that neither he nor his colleagues had received the
notification.
Juan regretted the issuance of the travel ban, saying that
Soeharto had never intended to go abroad.
"It is arrogance, not judicial concerns, that have led the
Attorney General's Office to the decision to issue the travel
ban. It's just baseless," Juan told reporters upon leaving his
office at the Global Building on Jl. Gatot Subroto, South
Jakarta.
Juan admitted, however, that certain parties whom he refused
to identify had offered Soeharto assistance if he wished to seek
medical treatment abroad.
"But Pak Harto turned down the offer, saying adequate medical
treatment could be found in Indonesia," he said.
He added that Soeharto's team of lawyers would meet on
Thursday to discuss the travel ban.
Soeharto was declared unfit to resume questioning on Monday by
an independent team of doctors from Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital
(RSCM). Supardi Sudibyo, the team's leader, suggested that the
Attorney General's Office order a more comprehensive medical test
on Soeharto before the questioning resumes.
Chaerul Imam said on Wednesday his office was considering
providing Soeharto with free medical treatment as suggested by
the Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association recently.
"It depends on the RSCM doctors. If they ask the Attorney
General's Office to give Soeharto medical care, we will do so. No
problem," he said.
Soeharto was questioned at his residence early this month
after he failed on three prior occasions to answer a summons for
questioning, citing medical reasons.
The initial questioning on April 3 was stopped after 90
minutes and another round of questioning on April 10 was
abandoned upon the request of doctors.
The latest medical assessment of his psychological state
revealed that Soeharto was losing his ability and eagerness to
respond. (01)
JAKARTA (JP): The Attorney General's Office announced on
Wednesday that former president Soeharto is barred from leaving
the country while the investigation into his alleged corruption
case is being conducted.
Director of Corruption Affairs Chaerul Imam said on Wednesday
that the travel restriction was imposed in order to simplify the
investigation process.
"The ban is to ensure that Soeharto could fulfill every
summons and be met with at any time," Chaerul told journalists.
He said that the ban was made in anticipation of news that
Soeharto's family had planned to take the former ruler abroad for
further medical treatment.
"I heard the news from the radio just recently, along with
Head of Jakarta Court Luqman Bahmid. The Attorney General's
Office doesn't want it to happen, otherwise it would hamper the
investigation," he said.
Rumors had been rife that Soeharto's family had recently
applied for U.S. visas and had bought a house in the United
States.
A source from the embassy told The Jakarta Post that the
country will reject any visiting permit applied for by a person
who violates the law, is under a travel ban or has a record of
misuse.
Chaerul said the travel restriction took effect on Wednesday
and could be extended after six months if necessary. He added
that a letter informing him of the ban had been delivered to
Soeharto.
But one of Soeharto's lawyers, Juan Felix Tampubolon, said as
of 8 p.m. that neither he nor his colleagues had received the
notification.
Juan regretted the issuance of the travel ban, saying that
Soeharto had never intended to go abroad.
"It is arrogance, not judicial concerns, that have led the
Attorney General's Office to the decision to issue the travel
ban. It's just baseless," Juan told reporters upon leaving his
office at the Global Building on Jl. Gatot Subroto, South
Jakarta.
Juan admitted, however, that certain parties whom he refused
to identify had offered Soeharto assistance if he wished to seek
medical treatment abroad.
"But Pak Harto turned down the offer, saying adequate medical
treatment could be found in Indonesia," he said.
He added that Soeharto's team of lawyers would meet on
Thursday to discuss the travel ban.
Soeharto was declared unfit to resume questioning on Monday by
an independent team of doctors from Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital
(RSCM). Supardi Sudibyo, the team's leader, suggested that the
Attorney General's Office order a more comprehensive medical test
on Soeharto before the questioning resumes.
Chaerul Imam said on Wednesday his office was considering
providing Soeharto with free medical treatment as suggested by
the Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association recently.
"It depends on the RSCM doctors. If they ask the Attorney
General's Office to give Soeharto medical care, we will do so. No
problem," he said.
Soeharto was questioned at his residence early this month
after he failed on three prior occasions to answer a summons for
questioning, citing medical reasons.
The initial questioning on April 3 was stopped after 90
minutes and another round of questioning on April 10 was
abandoned upon the request of doctors.
The latest medical assessment of his psychological state
revealed that Soeharto was losing his ability and eagerness to
respond. (01)