Soeharto questioning to be resume Monday

Soeharto questioning to be resume Monday

JAKARTA (JP): State prosecutors failed on Friday to resume the
questioning of former president Soeharto due to his illness, but
set a new date for Monday.

Director of Corruption Affairs Chairul Imam said that the
Attorney General's Office learned that the health of Soeharto,
who is facing corruption charges, worsened on Wednesday and there
was no indication that he could undergo the questioning on
Friday.

"One of his lawyers called on Wednesday, informing that
Soeharto's condition worsened following the questioning on
Monday. He said that his client would be unable to endure the
next questioning," Chairul said after a meeting with Attorney
General Marzuki Darusman.

Rectifying his earlier statement that the questioning could
resume without approval from both state-appointed doctors and
Soeharto's medical team, Chairul said the questioning on Monday
was subject to the joint medical team's considerations.

Chairul added that the Attorney General's Office chose to
conduct the questioning at the suspect's residence to avoid
discomfort caused by an unfamiliar place and lack of medical
facilities which could hamper the questioning.

"We learned from the initial questioning that Soeharto's
condition worsened when he felt uncomfortable. It does not matter
where the questioning takes place, as long as it is successful,"
he said.

Chairul denied that his office treated the former ruler
preferentially, saying that the state prosecutors were complying
with suggestions from RSCM doctors.

The independent medical team reported that Soeharto was fit to
face questioning, provided that he was accompanied by doctors.
The doctors also said Soeharto could only react to or understand
simple questions.

"Now we are arranging simple questions so that Soeharto can
easily comprehend and answer them," Chairul added. (01)