Soeharto's a no-show
Soeharto's a no-show
JAKARTA (JP): The Attorney General's Office has pledged to
force former president Soeharto's appearance for a questioning
over alleged corruption and abuse of power on Monday after he
failed to turn up on Thursday.
Director of Corruption Affairs Chairul Imam told a group of
student protesters in front of his office that the third and
final summons had been sent to the former ruler shortly after the
planned questioning of Soeharto failed to materialize.
Soeharto, 78, was scheduled to be questioned at 9 a.m., but
did not appear until noon.
"We expect him to appear for the questioning not later than
Monday at 1 p.m.," he said.
"If he fails to answer this last summons, the penal code
allows the prosecutors to conduct the questioning at the
suspect's residence. And, if his lawyers or family reject us, we
will take coercive measures."
Chairul insisted that Soeharto was fit enough for the
questioning.
"The Attorney General's Office will adhere to the report from
the RSCM (Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital) medical team which
says that with a number of limitations, Soeharto is capable of
being questioned.
Soeharto's failure to appear for questioning on Thursday was
no surprise after his lawyers submitted a letter to the Attorney
General's Office on Wednesday saying their client would not be
available for questioning.
Citing the report from the RSCM medical team, the letter said
Soeharto had difficulty communicating his thoughts and would
require "assistance to choose the correct words to convey (his)
thoughts into long and complex sentences".
Attorney General Marzuki Darusman said last week the results
of the medical examination showed Soeharto was healthy enough to
undergo questioning.
Soeharto failed to answer a summons in February after the
Attorney General's Office named the former president a suspect in
its investigation of alleged corruption and abuse of power during
his time in office.
But Soeharto's lawyers pleaded ill health and refused to allow
their client to appear for questioning.
Soeharto was hospitalized twice last year for a mild stroke
and intestinal bleeding. (01/byg)
JAKARTA (JP): The Attorney General's Office has pledged to
force former president Soeharto's appearance for a questioning
over alleged corruption and abuse of power on Monday after he
failed to turn up on Thursday.
Director of Corruption Affairs Chairul Imam told a group of
student protesters in front of his office that the third and
final summons had been sent to the former ruler shortly after the
planned questioning of Soeharto failed to materialize.
Soeharto, 78, was scheduled to be questioned at 9 a.m., but
did not appear until noon.
"We expect him to appear for the questioning not later than
Monday at 1 p.m.," he said.
"If he fails to answer this last summons, the penal code
allows the prosecutors to conduct the questioning at the
suspect's residence. And, if his lawyers or family reject us, we
will take coercive measures."
Chairul insisted that Soeharto was fit enough for the
questioning.
"The Attorney General's Office will adhere to the report from
the RSCM (Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital) medical team which
says that with a number of limitations, Soeharto is capable of
being questioned.
Soeharto's failure to appear for questioning on Thursday was
no surprise after his lawyers submitted a letter to the Attorney
General's Office on Wednesday saying their client would not be
available for questioning.
Citing the report from the RSCM medical team, the letter said
Soeharto had difficulty communicating his thoughts and would
require "assistance to choose the correct words to convey (his)
thoughts into long and complex sentences".
Attorney General Marzuki Darusman said last week the results
of the medical examination showed Soeharto was healthy enough to
undergo questioning.
Soeharto failed to answer a summons in February after the
Attorney General's Office named the former president a suspect in
its investigation of alleged corruption and abuse of power during
his time in office.
But Soeharto's lawyers pleaded ill health and refused to allow
their client to appear for questioning.
Soeharto was hospitalized twice last year for a mild stroke
and intestinal bleeding. (01/byg)