Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The health of suspended North Sumatra Governor Syamsul Arifin who is on trial for alleged corruption involving Langkat district budget funds is now in critical condition, a doctor at the hospital treating him said.

"At present the patient (Syamsul Arifin)`s state of health is in very critical condition and his family wishes to let him get medical treatment in Singapore," Dr. Antono Sutandar of the "Harapan Kita" cardiac hospital, said during his testimony at a special corruption court session here on Tuesday.

Antono said the Harapan Kita cardiac hospital had not been able to cure Syamsul`s illness, and that another complication had even developed.

The doctors team had tried to use pacemakers, open his blood vessels but the measures had not improved Syamsul`s condition, he said.

Antono, however, opined that although Syamsul was brought to Singapore for medical treatment, he was not quite sure that doctors in Singapore would be able to heal him.

"I do not know the person with this heart disease (Syamsul Arifin) personally, I just deal with his medical problem," said Antono after being questioned by the panel of judges for special corruption cases for his reference to choose a referral hospital in Singapore for Syamsul Arifin.

Previously, Syamsul Arifin`s lawyer had filed a request to the panel of judges to allow his client to seek medical treatment in Singapore as recommended by Dr. Antono Sukandar.

In the meantime, Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) spokesperson Johan Budi said the authority to allow Syamsul to go to Singapore for medical treatment was in the hands of the Central Jakarta District Court. ***3***

(B003/S012)

Editor: Suryanto
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