JAKARTA, Indonesia — Doctors struggling to prolong the life of former dictator Suharto said he was showing slight signs of improvement Saturday, a day after he suffered organ failure and was placed on a ventilator. Asked whether he was in pain, the 86-year-old nodded before drifting back to sleep.
Among the stream of visitors at the hospital in recent days was Indonesian Attorney General Hendarman Supanji, who said the government wanted to settle a civil corruption case against Suharto, seeking $1.5 billion in damages and funds allegedly stolen from the state.
Attorneys for the former strongman rejected the proposal and said it was not the proper time to discuss it.
“How we can accept this offer when there is no evidence of corruption?” Otto Cornelis Kaligis told The Associated Press.
Suharto, whose 32-year regime was widely regarded as one of the 20th century’s most brutal and graft-ridden, was hospitalized in critical condition a week ago with anemia and a low heart rate. He initially responded well to a blood transfusion and kidney dialysis, but his condition sharply deteriorated days later.
Suharto suffered organ failure Friday, and doctors placed him on a ventilator after detecting signs of a lung infection.
