Permadi case ordinary crime: Golkar
Permadi case ordinary crime: Golkar
JAKARTA (JP): Golkar's decision to disclose the allegedly blasphemous statements of soothsayer Permadi Satrio Wiwoho and file a lawsuit against him was not politically motivated, says a senior official of the ruling Golkar Party.
"Permadi's case is an ordinary crime and has nothing to do with politics," said Agung Laksono, deputy chairman of Golkar's executive board.
Permadi has been in hot water since a seminar last year when he likened Golkar to the outlawed Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) and called Prophet Muhammad a "dictator".
Golkar chief Harmoko plans to sue the soothsayer, while numerous Moslem groups under Golkar have taken to the streets to condemn Permadi for his allegedly blasphemous remarks, demanding that he be brought to court.
It was Din Syamsuddin, head of the Golkar's research and development section, who publicly charged Permadi with making a blasphemous statement about Prophet Muhammad.
Agung said that Golkar was also offended by Permadi's comparison of the ruling political group with the PKI.
"Golkar has always been on the front lines in crushing PKI." he was quoted by Antara as saying.
He denied allegations that the disclosure of Permadi's statements had caused social unrest.
In response to Police Chief Gen. Banurusman Astrosemitro's plan to question Din Syamsuddin in connection with the illicit mass production and sale of Permadi's controversial audio tapes in Central Java, Agung said that he would be glad to ask Syamsuddin to testify.
He said that Golkar sent two letters to the National Police Headquarters and the Attorney General's Office last week complaining about Permadi's comments.
Permadi is also in trouble for remarking that the Ministry of Religious Affairs has embezzled enormous amounts money from people going on the haj pilgrimage to Mecca.
The Minister of Religious Affairs will also file a lawsuit against Permadi for his accusation.
Permadi has also been accused of disturbing state stability for comments he made during an interview in March last year with Radio Unisi of Yogyakarta. On the talk show he predicted that political calamity would strike this year.
Meanwhile, H.M. Dault, one of Permadi's lawyers, gave an update on the investigation of his client.
"The police have completed their investigation of Permadi," Dault told reporters in a press conference yesterday.
He did not say, however, when the dossiers of Permadi would be brought to the Court.
"It will depend on the police investigators," he said, adding that Permadi had been interrogated three times by police investigators.
He also repeated his client's earlier statement that there were several versions of Permadi's recorded statements.
"The tape recording, which was used to bring my client into the investigation, only included Permadi's statements," he said, adding that the real one was the tape that included statements from other speakers and participants at the seminar.
He said that Permadi did not insult Prophet Muhammad but only responded to a participant's question, which mentioned Prophet Muhammad as being authoritarian. (imn)