Soeharto undergoes medical examination

JAKARTA (JP): Former president Soeharto underwent a medical examination at Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital (RSCM) in Central Jakarta late on Monday night to determine whether he is fit to face questioning for alleged corruption.

But close to midnight on Monday the independent team of doctors from the hospital had yet to present a diagnosis to the Attorney General's Office.

Soeharto arrived at Cendrawasih Pavilion at about 9 p.m., accompanied by three of his six children -- Siti Hardijanti Rukmana, Bambang Tri Hatmodjo and Siti Hutami Endang Adiningsih.

Security was extremely tight and the area was cordoned off from journalists. About two dozen men guarded access to the pavilion from the parking lot.

Patients in the pavilion were unable to leave as the gates were locked and guarded.

Doctors would not go into detail about the examination.

Neurologist Dr. Yusuf Misbach, who headed the team of doctors from RSCM, when pressed for an account of the examination, merely replied: "It was just a routine physical examination."

He added that the examination room where Soeharto was seen was also just a regular hospital room.

Soeharto, 78, left the pavilion at about 10:55 p.m.

Wearing a long-sleeved batik shirt, Soeharto walked unassisted the 20 meters from the pavilion to a waiting Mercedes Jeep. He briefly waved and flashed a smile at journalists.

Soeharto is under investigation for alleged corruption during his 32 years in power. But efforts by the Attorney General's Office to question him have failed, as Soeharto's lawyers have claimed the former president is too ill to be questioned.

Efforts by the Attorney General's Office to have Soeharto examined by an independently appointed medical team twice failed.

Minutes after Soeharto left the hospital, Attorney General Marzuki Darusman held a media briefing at his office in South Jakarta to announce officially the examination had taken place.

However, he could not say what steps his office would now take, as it was awaiting the final report from the RSCM medical team.

"Until now we have not received any report from the team of doctors as to whether or not there will be a follow-up examination," Marzuki said.

"There can be no decision on what steps can be taken until a definitive report on Soeharto's health is submitted to us," he added.

When asked whether his office had imposed a deadline for the doctors to submit the report, Marzuki replied: "There has been no time limit set by the Attorney General's Office."

Soeharto's lawyer, Juan Felix Tampubolon, told The Jakarta Post Soeharto underwent the medical examination on his own initiative.

He said Soeharto had always wanted to cooperate, but due to technical reasons he did not show up for previously scheduled medical examinations.

Tampubolon previously said that on earlier occasions, Soeharto's lawyers and medical team had not been notified by the Attorney General's Office about the scheduled medical examinations.

"Then (last) Wednesday night we were called and asked by Pak Harto to follow up on this request," he explained, without saying whether an afternoon visit that Wednesday by President Abdurrahman Wahid influenced the decision.

In preparation for Monday's examination, Soeharto's doctors and doctors from RSCM met on Friday. (01/emf/byg)