TEMPO.CO, Bogor - Reports that spread through Whatsapp message suggested that convicted terrorist Abu Bakar Baasyir (79), who is currently serving time at the Gunung Sindur detention center had passed away today. This news is confirmed to be a hoax by the prison warden.

Previously, the false message informing the death of Abu Bakar Baasyir was also attached with a link to a fake news site; https://m.kiblat.net/2018/07/09/ustadz-basri-wafat-dalam-tahanan-tpm-minta-ustadz-abu-bakar-baasyir-dirumahkan/.

Warden of the Gunung Sindur detention center David Gultom confirmed that the news is indeed a hoax. “That’s a hoax, Abu Bakar Baasyir is currently in a healthy state,” he said on Tuesday, July 10.

David explained that Abu Bakar had indeed undergone medical treatment at the Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital to treat a pain he felt in his foot.

“He would previously come in and out of the hospital a month before the Eid al Fitr holiday, the doctor recommended Abu Bakar to not coming back and his current condition has returned to normal with no complaint,” David explained.

Abu Bakar Baasyir is jailed in a special cell block that cannot be accessed by anyone other than prison guards and is accompanied by another inmate that was recommended by the The National Counter-terrorism Agency (BNPT).

Ade Ridwan Yandwiputra