TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The police has arrested a 47 year-old man for alleged distribution of fake news that defame the Indonesian Police Chief Gen Tito Karnavian.

"Yesterday, we have arrested a suspect of defamation against the Police Chief in his Facebook account," an official of the police' criminal investigation unit Adjunct Senior Commissioner Irwansyah said on Wednesday.

The suspect, Edi Efendi used the name Iwan Laoet in his Facebook account.

In his account, Edi posted a false statement on behalf of Tito which saying "Tito: God willing, in the future people will trust the police more than ulemas!"

Edi was arrested by the police on Tuesday because his post was seen to bring a conflict between the Police and Muslims.

"The suspect has posted the statement in his Facebook account and shared it to Mujahidin group that has some 50 thousand followers," Irwansyah noted.

Based on preliminary investigation, Edi posted the false statement because of his resentment to the police.

"The suspect committed the crime because he thought the police has criminalized ulemas," he added.

The police seized a computer and cellular phone as evidence, but did not detain the suspect on grounds that the penalty for his crime might be less than five years in jail.

The case is investigated under law on electronic information and transaction, and article 207, 157 and 310 of the Criminal Code.

ANTARA