Soeharto to be reexamined: AGO

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