Soeharto fails to attend questioning

JAKARTA (JP): Former president Soeharto failed to show up at the Attorney General's office for questioning on Monday with his lawyers contending he is too sick to answer the summons as a suspect in alleged corruption.

Lawyer Juan Felix Tampubolon said Soeharto's doctors had concluded that the former ruler was too ill to face the questioning.

"According to the medical team, Pak Harto is unable to endure an investigation process," Tampubolon told reporters at the Attorney General's office after meeting with the head of corruption affairs department Chairul Imam.

Soeharto, who has repeatedly denied allegations that he amassed a fortune during his 32-years in power, was twice hospitalized last year for a stroke and intestinal bleeding.

However, Tampubolon did not present a formal medical diagnosis explaining Soeharto's illness. This was immediately demanded by the Attorney General's office.

"We have asked the lawyers to give us an official medical statement from Soeharto's doctors as soon as possible," Soehandoyo, spokesman for the Attorney General's office, said.

Since the announcement of a summons last week, Soeharto's lawyers have asserted that their client is too ill to attend the questioning.

Observers and human rights activists have called for a "second opinion" on Soeharto's health saying that the Attorney General's office must confirm the report from the former president's medical team.

There is a possibility that the Attorney General's office will set up a medical team to determine for themselves if Soeharto is physically fit to be questioned.

The summons was issued as new evidence has been discovered that warrants resumption of the investigation into the former ruler.

Since Soeharto stepped down from the presidency in May 1998, there has been a public outcry for him to be tried for alleged corruption during his rule.

However, the Attorney General's Office after months of investigation initially found no evidence of wrongdoing and the investigation was halted in October during the last week of B.J. Habibie's presidency.

Under the government of President Abdurrahman Wahid and new Attorney General Marzuki Darusman the Attorney General's office has vigorously reviewed the case, reopened it and named Soeharto as suspect in December.

Attorney General officials said the new evidence pointed to "a misuse of power and authority" in issuing government regulations and presidential decrees to amass funds for foundations linked to Soeharto, his family and associates.

Forbes magazine last year listed the wealth of the Soeharto family, whose investments run to real estate, banking, oil, toll roads and forestry, at US$4 billion. (byg)