State-appointed doctors to examine Soeharto soon

JAKARTA (JP): A team of doctors appointed by the Attorney General's Office will examine former president Soeharto at his home later this week.

"The medical team has reported to Attorney General (Marzuki Darusman) that it has finished studying (Soeharto's) medical report and that the examination will be conducted this week," the Attorney General's Office spokesman, Soehandoyo, told The Jakarta Post by phone on Wednesday.

When asked to specify the date, Soehandoyo said: "The medical team is still discussing the matter with the prosecutors".

Earlier in the day, Marzuki said that direct examination on Soeharto was aimed at ending speculation about the former ruler's health.

"We are going to verify (Soeharto's health) because what we have now is only speculation," Marzuki told reporters before attending a cabinet meeting.

Marzuki said last week that the state-appointed team of doctors was scheduled to examine Soeharto at his home on Jl. Cendana in Central Jakarta on Monday.

The doctors, whose identities have been kept secret by the Attorney General's Office, failed, however, to appear at Soeharto's residence on Monday.

Soeharto has been named a suspect by the Attorney General's Office in a probe into alleged corruption during his 32-year rule.

Soeharto's lawyers have repeatedly argued that their client is medically unfit to undergo questioning,

Two weeks ago the 78-year-old former strongman failed to answer a summons at the Attorney General's Office.

Meanwhile, President Abdurrahman Wahid said here Wednesday that he is willing to meet with Soeharto if the former president's family gives him permission.

Abdurrahman was responding to a request made by Soeharto's half-brother, Probosutedjo, that the president meet with the former ruler to personally witness his condition.

"I actually did make a request to meet with Soeharto sometime ago but his family said that the meeting should be delayed because he is still emotional and they are afraid the meeting could worsen his condition," Abdurrahman told a press conference at the Bina Graha presidential office.

When pressed to name the person who had interceded for Soeharto, Abdurrahman said that it was Soeharto's eldest daughter, Siti Hardijanti Rukmana.

U.S. business magazine Forbes last year estimated Soeharto's family fortune at some US$4 billion. Time magazine, which Soeharto has sued, has put the figure at about US$ 15 billion. (byg/prb)