Soeharto rushed to hospital for appendectomy

JAKARTA (JP): Former president Soeharto was rushed to the privately-run Pertamina Hospital in South Jakarta on Saturday for an appendectomy.

His lawyer Juan Felix Tampubolon told reporters later in the day the former ruler had recovered after the one-hour surgery which started around 11 a.m.

Soeharto is now being treated at the Very Very Important Person 603 suite room.

"He is conscious, he drank some water. He is still in pain," Juan said.

Soeharto was admitted to the hospital, where he previously underwent several medical check-ups, around 9:30 a.m., accompanied by his children, including Siti Hardijanti "Tutut" Rukmana, Bambang Trihatmodjo and Siti Hutami "Mamiek" Endang Adiningsih.

His eldest son Sigit Hardjojudanto was seen coming later in the afternoon.

Ardhia Pramesti Rigita "Tata" Cahyani, the wife of Soeharto's fugitive youngest son, Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra, also visited Soeharto.

Juan said that seven of Soeharto's medical team also accompanied him.

Relatives and friends were seen visiting the former president, who will turn 80 on June 8 this year, including younger half- brother Probosutedjo and former vice president Soedharmono.

Probosutedjo, the latest of Soeharto's family and cronies named as suspects in various grafts, told journalists that his half-brother was in a good condition and would be allowed to leave the hospital in a couple of days.

"We have talked and he was all right. He was still given intravenous feeding. He had not broken wind so he was not allowed to eat yet," he said.

Soeharto, a defendant in a US$571 million corruption case, suffered three strokes in 1999 after leaving the presidential post in mid-1998. He is also suffering heart illness and unstable blood pressure.

Following a verdict issued by the Supreme Court regarding Soeharto's case, an appointed team of doctors was scheduled to start observation of the defendant's medical records on Monday.

In its verdict, the court ordered the state prosecutors to undertake Soeharto's medical treatment at the government's expense and supervision before his trial could be reopened.

Juan dismissed assumptions of a scam, given that the surgery took place just before Monday's examination.

"To be honest, it's rather strange for a man of his age to suffer this illness, but we have pictures of his appendix that was taken out," he said.

"The prosecutors are welcome to come down here and have a look at his condition themselves. For a man on his age there is no point in him running away (from the law) or creating excuses." (bby)