Soeharto probe has to be halted: Tutut

SEMARANG: Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana, the daughter of former president Soeharto, has demanded the Attorney General's Office halt its investigation into alleged graft committed by her father.

A team of doctors at the office, which was examining the health of Soeharto, should to stop its activities because his health had already been checked before, Siti Hardiyanti said, while visiting farmers and the poor in the Demak regency, Central Java.

Soeharto had been examined by another team of doctors a few years ago and it had found he suffered from permanent brain damage, she said.

"The doctors were trusted doctors. They were professors, some of them were even doctors appointed by the government."

Given the brain damage, the investigation into alleged graft committed by Soeharto should be stopped, she said.

Siti Hardiyanti, also known as Tutut, is the Concern for the Nation Functional Party's presidential candidate.

Former dictator Soeharto is being investigated for his alleged graft in connection with several foundations and charities he established during his tenure. He rose to power in 1966, and stepped down in 1998. -- JP