Police Refuse to Confirm Rizieq's Investigation Termination  

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Chief of Public Relation of the Metro Jaya Police Sr. Commissioner Argo Yuwono refused to confirm whether the police have issued an Investigation Termination Letter (SP3) for the leader of the Islamic Defender Front (FPI) Rizieq Shihab in relation to the profane chat case. Argo asserted that the Metro Jaya Police has handed over the case involving Rizieq's partner Firza Husein to the National Police.

"You can as the [National Police] Headquarter," Argo said on June 15, 2018.

Rumours regarding the investigation termination went viral after Rizieq's attorney Kapitra Ampera uploaded the information on his Instagram account. In the post, Kapitra wrote: "Today is the freedom day for HRS and also a day of victory for Moslems. Thank you our Police, our prayers always be with you, we salute you."

The case first surfaced when audio recording, transcript, and screenshots of a conversation between Rizieq and Firza on the internet. The conversation documents went viral and were later reported to the Police by the Anti-Pornography Student Alliance on January 30, 2017.

Before the investigation can get underway, Rizieq escaped the country to Saudi Arabia for an Umrah. Rizieq however, remains in Saudi Arabia until today despite numerous reports said that he will be coming back to Indonesia. Rizieq's whereabouts were confirmed following the surfacing of proof that he had met with a number of political figures such as Prabowo Subianto and Amien Rais.

ANDITA RAHMA