TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Fredrich Yunadi, the lawyer of House of Representatives' (DPR) Speaker Setya Novanto suspected there are intellectual actors behind many number of internet memes of his client circulating in social media.

"We suspect there are people who ordered or funded the [distribution] of these memes," he said at the police headquarters in Jakarta, Wednesday, November 1.

Fredrich said there are at least 60 types of joke memes with Setya Novanto's face posted online. He appealed to the public not to hate and spread slander about his client.

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"We urge the public to presume Setya's innocence, so that in this case, our client is not receiving hate and hostility. Mr. Setya Novanto is an active speaker of the House despite the legal issues implicating him," Fredrich said.

"He has not been proven guilty. His position as House Speaker is at the same level as the president, so we expect no wrong judgment," he said.

According to Fredrich, the circulation of the memes will lead public opinion. "People who know nothing will hate him," he said.

The police have arrested a man suspected of defaming and insulting Setya Novanto through social media. The man, Dyann Kemala Arrizzqi (29), posted the alleged insults to his Instagram account on October 7. Dyann is charged with violating several articles of the Information and Electronic Transactions Law.

ANTARA