TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - National Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Awi Setiyono said that the state ideology defamation case entangling Islamic Defender Front (FPI) leader Rizieq Shihab will be processed based on prevailing law.
However, Awi said that it is possible for the National Police to drop the case if individuals who filed the police report decided to withdraw the case.
"In the case of a complaint, the individual who filed the report is allowed to withdraw the report," Awi said at the National Police headquarter in Jakarta on Wednesday, January 18, 2017.
Awi said that the case would be processed if the individual refused to withdraw the report.
"If there's a report, then Police will conduct an investigation. If at least two evidences are found, then the case will be processed," Awi explained.A
wi added that police would not recommend settling the case outside the legal process. According to Awi, such a way to settle a case can be conducted if the two conflicting parties agree to settle the case.
Earlier, Rizieq expected that the case could be settled through mediation.
Sukmawati Soekarnoputri, daughter of President Soekarno, filed a police report against Rizieq for allegedly insulting state ideology Pancasila. In addition, the Anti-Defamation Young Intellectuals Network (JIMAF) and the Red-and-White Solidarity (Somet) reported Rizieq for his statement related to a hammer-and-sickle logo printed on new paper bills issued by Bank Indonesia (BI).
On December 25, 2016, Rizieq also delivered a sermon at Pondok Kelapa, East Jakarta, allegedly insulting Christians. Indonesian Catholic Students Union (PMKRI) chairman Angelo Wake Kako, Inter-Faith Youth Students Forum coordinator Slamet Abidin and a resident of Kelapa Gading in North Jakarta filed reports against Rizieq for allegedly spreading hatred.
ANTARA
