Police Distribute Pictures of Fugitive Rizieq in Pornography Case

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta Police have asked for the assistance of the police across regions in Indonesia to arrest the Islamic Defenders Front leader Rizieq Syihab, a fugitive in a pornography case. Help is being asked by distributing Rizieq’s pictures. "Aside from police stations, we will distribute them in public spaces," Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Raden Prabowo Argo Yuwono said yesterday.

Rizieq has been declared a fugitive since Monday last week after being named a suspect over his WhatsApp chats containing naked pictures of a woman believed to be activist Firza Husein. Police have earlier named Firza a suspect. The case dossier has been handed over to Jakarta Prosecutors’ Office.

Firza, the chairwoman of Yayasan Solidaritas Sahabat Cendana, is also a suspect in treason case over which she was arrested alongside several others during a mass demonstration on December 2 last year. The rally was led by Rizieq demanding then Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama be detained.

According to Argo, the hunt for Rizieq, who is currently abroad, will also be done in cooperation with the Interpol. Jakarta Police have issued a red notice. "The approval for a red notice is being reviewed by the Interpol," he said.

On a separate occasion, the FPI lawyer Sugito Atmo Prawiro said that Rizieq has filed a visa extension to the Saudi Arabia government. He said that his client does not intend to avoid legal process.

INGE KLARA SAFITRI | RIKY FERDIANTO