Soeharto to be reexamined: AGO

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Attorney General's Office (AGO) has gathered a new medical team to examine former president Soeharto's health to determine whether or not it could resume investigations into his alleged corruption.

"The Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital (RSCM) formed the team last week and we will discuss when to carry out the examination as soon as possible," AGO spokesman Kiemas Yahya Rahman told The Jakarta Post on Monday.

"We have sent (on Monday) a letter informing (Soeharto's) family and his lawyers about the planned medical exam for the former president," said Kiemas.

He would not reveal the number of team members or their names.

"We cannot disclose the names of the doctors, but the examination will be carried out as soon as possible," Kiemas said.

Calls for reopening Soeharto's corruption case resurfaced after he had a private meeting with former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad over the weekend.

The 30-minute meeting, took place at Soeharto's residence in Menteng, Central Jakarta, and again triggered suggestions that Soeharto was physically healthy and able to undergo a legal investigation.

One of Soeharto's aides, who refused to identify himself, claimed that although the former president had difficulties in speaking, he could understand questions from Mahathir.

Soeharto, who was forced to resign on May 20, 1998 after leading the country for more than three decades, has been accused of enriching himself, family and cronies by embezzling more than US$600 million worth of state funds laundered through dozens of his tax-free foundations.

A team of medical doctors from RSCM -- the same hospital that will carry this next exam -- declared in August 2002 that Soeharto was suffering from permanent brain damage due to several minor strokes.

Because of the brain damage, Soeharto was said to have a total or partial loss of ability to use and understand words.

However, the former strongman was seen standing on his own with a big smile, apparently the picture of health for man his age, on Saturday while visiting with his old friend Mahathir.

Additionally, last year, Soeharto also visited his youngest son Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra twice at Nusakambangan prison island off Java, where Tommy is serving a 15-year sentence for ordering the murder of a Supreme Court judge.

Soeharto's eldest daughter Siti "Tutut" Hardijanti Rukmana, meanwhile, said on Friday that it was up to the government and the AGO to decide whether or not her father would undergo a new round of investigations.

She, however, stressed that her father had been examined by the best medical minds this country had to offer.

"He has been examined by many doctors in the country, and some of them are professors. Does their expertise not mean anything?" Tutut, a presidential candidate herself, wondered rhetorically.

She insisted that the results of the examinations were clear and he could not stand trial because of his speaking ability.

"But, the family will leave this matter to the Attorney General's Office and the government," she said.

Soeharto's Legal Journey

May 21, 1998: Soeharto steps down

Sept. 25, 1998: Soeharto authorizes prosecutors to find his alleged overseas deposits and assets

Nov. 22, 1998: Soeharto hands over his seven tax-free charity foundations to the state

Dec. 2, 1998: President B.J. Habibie issues an instruction to probe Soeharto's wealth

Dec. 9, 1998: Soeharto is questioned for the first time, reportedly for four hours

Jan. 12, 1999: Prosecutors reveal indications that Soeharto violated the law in amassing his millions

May. 31, 1999: Minister of Justice Muladi and Attorney General Andi M. Ghalib travel to Switzerland and Austria to trace Soeharto's assets. Upon returning to Indonesia, they say they have found no Soeharto assets or deposits in the two countries

Dec. 7, 1999: Soeharto is named as a suspect in corruption cases

Apr. 13, 2000: Soeharto is placed under city arrest.

Sept. 21, 2000: South Jakarta District Court decides to stop Soeharto's case due to the defendant's poor health

Nov.10, 2000: Jakarta High Court annulled the decision of district court.

Feb.6, 2001: Supreme Court rules in favor of Soeharto to stop legal proceedings due to poor health

Dec. 11, 2001: The Supreme Court states that a trial cannot be held due to his worsening health condition

Dec. 21, 2001: President Megawati Soekarnoputri mentioned a possible pardon of Soeharto

Aug. 12, 2002: Soeharto declared unfit for trial by doctors from RSCM