Rizieq Shihab Protests Forensic Expert From Police: Sorry Sir, I Am Only Talking About Independence

JAKARTA - Rizieq Shihab, the defendant in the case of alleged crowds and violation of the Petamburan and Megamendung health protocols, protested the appointment of Heri Priyanto as a digital forensic expert. The reason was that Heri was a member of the National Police.

Rizieq's protest was conveyed when Heri was about to give his opinion in the trial. Rizieq is worried that the expert's statement will not be objective because he is a member of the National Police.

"So I really object to the presence of Mr. Heri Priyanto as an expert witness forensics. I do not doubt his expertise. Sorry Mr. Heri Priyanto, I do not doubt your expertise as a forensic expert, I am only talking about independence which can interfere with the objectivity of your opinion," said Rizieq in court. Negeri Jakarta Timur, Thursday, April 29.

Apart from worrying that the expert was not objective, Rizieq also said that during the trial there had been many members of the National Police who had been present.

For example, former Central Jakarta Police Chief Kombes Heru Novianto, Tebet Police Chief Kompol Budi Cahyono and several Babinkamtibmas. At that time, they were presented as fact witnesses.

"I mean this, the reporter is the police and also works as an investigator, the investigator is the police, there are many police fact witnesses, now the police are expert witnesses too," said Rizieq.

"The problem is independence. So that it can interfere with the practice of objectivity in the opinion," continued Rizieq.

In the alleged violation of the health protocol in Petamburan, Rizieq Shihab was charged with incitement to the appearance of a crowd at his daughter's wedding as well as commemorating the Prophet's birthday in Petamburan, Central Jakarta. This crowd is taking place in the midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Rizieq was charged with violating Article 160 of the Criminal Code in conjunction with Article 93 of Law Number 6 of 2018 concerning Health Quarantine in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph 1 to 1 of the Criminal Code and or Article 82 paragraph 1 in conjunction with Article 59 paragraph 3 letters c and d Law Number 16 of 2017 concerning Community Organization jo Article 55 paragraph 1 to 1 KUHP in conjunction with Article 10 letter b KUHP in conjunction with Article 35 paragraph 1 KUHP.

Meanwhile, in the case of the Megamendung crowd, Rizieq was charged with violating the Health Quarantine Law and was denied the prevention of the COVID-19 outbreak due to a crowd of sympathizers in Megamendung, Bogor Regency on November 13.

He was also charged with violating Article 216 paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code because he deliberately did not follow the rules of the authorities regarding the implementation of the Law.