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Soeharto's Trial Must Go on: Wahid
Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid Friday indicated that the trial process against former president Soeharto should go on despite the absence of the defendant in the first hearing on Thursday.
Wahid made the statement in response some parties which were worried that Thursday's absence of the former strongman from the court would hamper the long-waited trial process.
"I think the trial should proceed, even if Soeharto fails to attend it," the president was quoted by Antara as saying.
He further said that "Whether the defendant be justified to be absent or not, that is a problem for the medical team to mull over."
Wahid said that the problem arose when the medical team concluded that the defendant could not attend the trial due to a lapse in his reasoning.
"That is the problem for medical team. But the medical conclusion that the defendant is unable to attend the trial does not mean that the trial itself should be stopped. The trial must go on," Wahid said.
Soeharto failed to appear before the court on Thursday for medical reasons. Based on the medical reports issued by Soeharto's doctor team, the former ruler's health condition was not in a good shape to attend the trial.
Chief of judge of the South Jakarta District Court in charge of trying Lalu Mariyun then adjourned the trial to mid-September to hear the reports from Soeharto's doctors on Soeharto, the former five stars general who ran the country with an iron hand for more than three decades.
Meanwhile, Wahid also reiterated that should Soeharto be convicted, he in his capacity as the president of Indonesia, would pardon the 79-year-old man on the condition that the latter would return the wealth he stole during his 32 years in power.
"That is the absolute condition. The amount (of fortune that should be returned to the state) will be computed by a team of experts," Wahid said.
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