Soeharto to get hospital exam

Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

A government-appointed medical team spent two-and-a-half hours examining former president Soeharto at his residence in Central Jakarta on Tuesday, to see if he could stand trial.

However, the six-member team issued no recommendation to state prosecutors and decided to take Soeharto to a hospital to continue its check.

"We need to make further examinations that need equipment," team leader Akmal Taher told reporters at Soeharto's residence on upmarket Jl. Cendana.

Akmal said that the team would also compare the results of Tuesday's examination with Soeharto's latest medical records.

However, he failed to explain which kind of examination the team conducted or elaborate on Soeharto's condition.

The team's neurologist Yusuf Misbach said that "the examination went smoothly and the patient is cooperative."

Only doctors were allowed to enter Soeharto's bedroom, where the examination was taken. Prosecutors and Soeharto's lawyers were barred from entering the room.

Prosecutor Poerwanto, who led the mission, said he would discuss with Soeharto's family which hospital Soeharto would be examined in.

Bringing Soeharto to hospital, however, may not be an easy task as lawyer Juan Felix Tampubolon said that the team should first listen to what the family's own medical team had to say on allowing the former dictator to be taken to a hospital.

"And, in compliance with ethics, we should also seek approval from the patient himself," he told The Jakarta Post.

The examination of Soeharto was prompted by a press report, describing the former ruler's healthy appearance during the wedding of his granddaughter last month.

Soeharto, who turned 81 earlier this month, is suspected of swindling US$571 million of state funds. The case was dropped after Soeharto's no-show for health reasons during a trial in September 2000.