Soeharto to get hospital exam

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.