Police Names Bahar bin Smith as Suspect of Assault
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21 December 2018 10:46 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Religious lecturer who is currently under the spotlight, Muhammad Bahar bin Smith, has been named by police as a key-suspect behind an alleged assault against two Islamic students of the Tajul Alawiyyin Islamic boarding school in Bogor, West Java.
Bahar bin Smith is currently under custody at the West Java Police general crimes directorate penitentiary.
“Bahar bin Smith is seen as the intellectual actor and prime suspect of assault in this case,” said Brig. Gen. Dedi Prasetyo, Indonesian National Police Head of public relations, on Thursday, December 20.
Dedi Prasetyo maintained that his office immediately arrested Bahar on Tuesday after an interrogation due to his role in the assault.
The police deemed Bahar’s physical assault was more severe than his public insult against Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, which is being investigated by the Metro Jaya Police. He was not jailed for his alleged hate speech and insult against a state symbol.
To counteract rumors of Ulema criminalization among the public, Dedi Prasetyo asserted that the arrest of Bahar bin Smith is purely based on the law; “The suspect had acted against the law and it is a violation. We are using the perspective as law enforcers and nothing else,” said Dedi.
ANDITA RAHMA
