Police Raise Case Of Alleged Hate Speech Bahar Bin Smith To Investigation

West Java Police Chief Inspector General Suntana/Polri Public Relations DOK

BANDUNG - West Java Regional Police Chief Inspector General Suntana confirmed that his party had escalated the case against Bahar bin Smith into an investigation. The case that ensnared Bahar bin Smith was related to allegations of hate speech containing elements of ethnicity, religion, race and intergroup (SARA).

"West Java Police investigators have stepped up the legal process that ensnared BS into an investigation," said Suntana in a written statement, Wednesday, December 29.

The West Java Police Investigator, said Suntana, had submitted a Notice of Investigation Commencement (SPDP) to Bahar bin Smith at his residence in Bogor on Tuesday, December 28.

"The SPDP has been submitted to the reported party," he said.

In this case, Bahar bin Smith was charged with a criminal act of spreading information aimed at causing hatred and or hostility to individuals and or groups based on SARA as referred to in Article 28 paragraph (2) in conjunction with Article 45A paragraph (2) of the Law on Information and Transactions. Electronic (ITE) and/or Article 14 and Article 15 of the Republic of Indonesia Law number 1 of 1946 concerning criminal law regulations.