Soeharto returns home after 6 days in hospital

JAKARTA (JP): Former president Soeharto on Thursday returned home after six days of treatment at Pertamina Hospital in South Jakarta for intestinal bleeding.

The former strongman was wheeled into a waiting dark blue BMW sedan, driven by his second eldest son Bambang Trihatmodjo.

All of his children were present at the hospital, except for the youngest son, Hutomo Mandala Putra.

Before entering the sedan, the pale and frail-looking 78-year- old waved to a crowd of onlookers and journalists. The unexpected acknowledgement triggered applause from the mostly female crowd.

A few hours earlier, chief of Soeharto's medical team Ibrahim Ginting had denied the former president would leave the hospital, and dismissed rumors that doctors had given up on further treatment.

"Who said that he (Soeharto) will leave today? All information should have come from me.

"His condition is improving and doctors have allowed him to go, but it's bapak (Soeharto) who will decide when he will leave the hospital," Ginting said.

It was the second time in less than a month that Soeharto had required hospitalization. He was rushed on July 20 to the hospital after suffering a mild stroke and was readmitted to the early Saturday morning after he complained of feeling unwell.

Upon his arrival at his Menteng residence in Central Jakarta, Soeharto, supported by daughters Siti Hardijanti Rukmana and Siti Hedijati Harijadi Prabowo, walked the few steps from the car to the veranda.

He took the opportunity to again wave at journalists, who were waiting in front of his home.

Chief of Soeharto's legal team, Juan Felix Tampubolon, said the former first family had no plans to send Soeharto abroad or invite foreign doctors to attend to Soeharto.

"None of his children plan to send Pak Harto abroad for medical treatment. We trust our doctors here, so there is no need to invite others here," Juan said following Soeharto's return home.

Juan speculated that Soeharto's illness was caused not only by his age, but also by continuous psychological "torture" caused by uncertainty over the investigation into allegations of corruption concerning the Soeharto clan.

"The investigation has lasted eight months. So far the investigators have yet to come up with any evidence.

"Such a prolonged investigation has violated his basic rights. That's what has happened to Pak Harto since the investigation began," Juan told The Jakarta Post.

The government suggested on Wednesday that the investigation into Soeharto's alleged corruption would be suspended due to lack of evidence. (emf)