Soeharto Goes into Deep RelapseIndonesian former president Soeharto, who suffered two strokes over the past three years, went into a deep relapse on Monday (November 13), prompting fears of a worsening health condition.Soeharto collapsed twice and had to be put on oxygen to help him breathe. However, at about 11 p.m. local time, some 12 hours after the initial scare, the 79-year-old former president was conscious and in stable condition, local newspapers Tuesday quoted a close aide as saying. "His condition has improved. This situation has happened several times since his stroke," Anton Tabah, Soeharto's private secretary, said Monday night. Tabah said Soeharto was treated by a personal doctor and had been on oxygen since early Monday. The secretary did not give reasons for the collapse. Police recently raided the Central Jakarta houses of the former first family to seek his youngest son Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra who has gone into hiding after being sentenced for 18 months on corruption charges. Tommy, the most beloved of Soeharto's three sons, was convicted of corruption and given an 18-month jail term by the Supreme Court on September 22. He has been missing ever since November 5 when President Abdurrahman Wahid refused to pardon him. Meanwhile, a Jakarta high court last week ordered that the elder Soeharto's corruption trial be reopened. It had been stopped in late September after doctors said Soeharto was physically and mentally unfit for trial. Critics accused Soeharto and his family of corruptly amassing a fortune of up to 45 billion U.S. dollars during his tough reign. Soeharto, who ruled the country for 32 years, stepped down in May 1998 during a grave political and economic crisis in the country. |
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