TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Muhammad Bahar alias Bahar bin Smith stated his readiness to come if the police summoned him to undergo an investigation related to the case that dragged him. Bahar was reported to the National Police`s Criminal Investigation Unit (Bareskrim) and the Special Criminal Investigation Directorate of the Jakarta Police on 28 November, for allegedly expressed hate speech and insulted President Joko Widodo or Jokowi.
“Yes, I will come without bringing the mass or people. Only me and the lawyer,” Bahar said when contacted by Tempo on Saturday, December 1.
Responding to the reports, Bahar said that would not report the two plaintiffs back. “There is no point in reporting back to someone who is protected by the ruling regime,” he said.
Read: Jokowi Campaign Team Responds to Bahar Defamation Case
Bahar also suggested the plaintiffs watch the video of his sermon completely; from the beginning to the end. “Don’t cut it if you want to see the sermon. Look until it's finished,” he said.
In the video that was used as evidence by the plaintiffs, Bahar mentioned Jokowi during a sermon delivered in the commemoration of Prophet Muhammad Mawlid in Tangerang, Banten on November 17. In the 60-second footage, Bahar said, “Jokowi is traitor of the nation, traitor of the country, traitor of the people! If you meet Jokowi, pull his pants down, he probably is in his period; it seems that he is a shemale.”
Bahar bin Smith is allegedly to have violated Article 28 (2) in conjunction with Article 45A (2) of Republic of Indonesia Law No. 19/2018 on the amendment of Law No. 11/2008 concerning ITE, as well as Article 4b (2) in conjunction with Article 16 of Republic of Indonesia Law No. 40/2008 concerning Elimination of Racial and Ethnic Discrimination and Article 207 of the Criminal Code with criminal penalties of more than 5 years in prison
ANDITA RAHMA
