Police Arrest 8 Suspect of Hoax News Spreader on Quake Disaster

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The National Police’s Directorate of Cyber Crime has again arrested two suspects for allegedly spreading hoax news related to natural disasters. Up to date, the police has caught eight suspects.

“On October 2, we have identified 14 social media account suspected to spreading hoax news, incomplete news regarding disasters in Central Sulawesi and West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) which caused the public uproar,” said Police’s Director of Cyber Crime Unit Brig. Gen. Albertus Rachmad Wibowo in a written statement, Thursday, October 4.

The police were still examining the motives of the suspects. The following are the eight suspects.

1. Epi Wariani

The police arrested Epi in East Lombok Regency, NTB on Tuesday, October 2 at around 6 p.m. She posted hoax news on Friday, September 28, 2018, that NTB still under threats of earthquakes, particularly in Sumbawa island. (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=718808291813193&set=pb.100010520857921.-2207520000.1538448490.&type=3&theater)

2. Joni Afriadi

The police arrested Joni Afriandi in Batam Province, Tuesday, October 2 at 7:30 p.m. for posting hoax photo on Sunday, September 30. (https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=2190512311231481&id=100008182004846)

3. Uril Unik Febrian

The police arrested Febrian in Sidoarjo, East Java Province, Tuesday, October 2, for posting an article indicating the Java Island, especially Jakarta would experience earthquake on October 2. (https://www.facebook.com/uril.u.febrian/posts/2264581530442963)

4. Bobby Kirojan

The police arrested Bobby in Manado, Tuesday, October 2, at 3 p.m for posting an article indicating the Java Island, especially Jakarta would experience earthquake on Monday, September 24.

5. Ade Irma Suryani Nur

The police arrested Ade Irma in Jeneponto, Tuesday, October 2, at 12:30 local times for posting an article saying Bili-Bili dam damaged due to the earthquake on Friday, September 28. (https://www.facebook.com/groups/414216218659461/permalink/1952626724818395/)

6. Dhany Ramdhany

The police arrested Dhany in Cipinang Muara, East Jakarta, at 9:30 a.m. for posting an article indicating the Java Island, especially Jakarta would experience earthquake on Monday, October 1, 2018. (https://www.facebook.com/brazax.brazax/posts/238225867049754)

7. Martha Margaretha

The police arrested Martha in Surabaya at 13:40 local times for posting hoax content on August 24, 2018, reporting the megathrust quake in Java Island that would likely occur in Jakarta with a magnitude 8.9. (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1934301709968330&set=a.106260559439130&type=3)

8. Malini

The police arrested Malini in Pekanbaru, Tuesday, October 2, at 13:00 local times for posting hoax news on the same day regarding BMKG’s prediction that an 8.6-magnitude aftershock would hit Jakarta and Java. (https://www.facebook.com/groups/prabowofornkri/permalink/1485602164925404/)

ANDITA RAHMA