Govt clears Harmoko of wrongdoing

JAKARTA (JP): The Attorney General's Office cleared Minister of Information Harmoko yesterday of any intentional wrongdoing in mispronouncing the Koran.

Basrief Arief, chief spokesman of the Attorney General Office, told reporters that a team led by head of the Intelligence Operation Division Gatot Hendrarto has worked since Aug. 24 to look into the matter.

"We concluded that Harmoko did not intentionally mispronounce the Al Fatihah verse," Basrief said in his office.

Harmoko has already apologized for the slip of the tongue and has met with senior Moslem leaders to explain the situation.

Ulemas representing 17 Moslem organizations said last week that they accepted his explanation.

Basrief said that in the absence of any evidence of bad intention on Harmoko's part, the Attorney General's Office did not find any grounds to begin a formal investigation, or to prosecute the minister.

Harmoko made the slip of the tongue when he opened a wayang (puppet) festival in Surakarta on July 15. (imn)