Mahfud MD Reports Twitter Account for Alleged Insult, Defamation

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Former Constitutional Court chief justice Mahfud MD said he reported Twitter account @KakekKampret to the Klaten Police to educate the public on the Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law.

“I wanted to educate the public on the ITE Law that anyone who feels insulted can report [to the police] anywhere they are,” Mahfud told Tempo on Friday, March 1, 2019.

Mahfud lodged a police report against @KakekKampret for alleged insult and defamation. The incident began when the pseudonym account mentioned the origin of Mahfud’s car—a Toyota Camry. 

Read: Mahfud MD: Election Has Become a Hostile Event

The account, which boasts some 17.5 thousand followers, questioned whether the car was a gift from an iron businessman in Karawang, who was also an ex-regent candidate from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P). The account twitted twice on this on February 27 and 28.

Mahfud said he could have reported to any police office in Jakarta or Sleman—where he resides—but opted to report to the Klaten Police to show the public the report could be filed at any police office.

“Don’t stand still if you have a similar experience. Report it to the local police station. It doesn’t necessarily have to be in Jakarta,” Mahfud MD said.

BUDIARTI UTAMI PUTRI