TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Southeast Sulawesi Police announced that it has arrested Harjono, a resident of Kendari, for spreading a video related to 49 foreign workers from China at Kendari’s Haluoleo Airport. Chief Brigadier General Merdsyam said that the arrest is not due to the video itself, but the narrative behind it that is deemed provocative.

According to the police chief, the person was initially arrested by Kendari’s Airbase security personnel before being handed to local police. However, he said that the person is not under arrest and has been released after being interrogated.

“We are only authorized to receive that case and question the person to determine the motive,” said Merdysam on Tuesday.

The arrest sparked public outrage and called for the police chief to be axed from his position. According to the police chief, Harjono - who recorded the video - stated that dozens of Chinese migrant workers had contracted coronavirus, which is why he defends that the police questioning is due to an alleged violation of the Electronic Information and Transactions Law (UU ITE).

Harjono’s video went viral on social media platforms after he recorded 49 Chinese migrant workers arriving at the Haluoleo Airport in Southeast Sulawesi on March 15. His voiceover in the video claims that the Chinese nationals have entered Indonesia carrying the coronavirus.

ANDITA RAHMA