Bahar Smith's Allegations Of Hate Speech Goes Up For Investigation, West Java Police Examines 34 Witnesses Including Religious Experts

Bahar Smith (Screenshot Youtube @Refly Harun)

JAKARTA - The West Java Regional Police have asked for information from 34 people as witnesses in the alleged hate speech case involving Bahar bin Smith. The case is currently at the investigation stage.

"There are 34 witnesses who are being investigated," said the Head of the Public Relations Division of the National Police's Public Relations Division, Brigadier General Ahmad Ramadhan, to reporters, Friday, December 31.

Of the dozens of people, 13 of them were reporting witnesses to witnesses who were at the scene. While the rest are experts. They are experts on religion, language, and ITE.

"It consists of 1 reporter and then 3 witnesses who together with the reporter saw the YouTube channel. Then three religious leaders and 6 witnesses who were at the TKP," said Ramadhan.

This expert examination was carried out to strengthen the existence of criminal violations in the case. Thus, the investigative team decided to escalate the case of the alleged hate speech to investigation.

"Then investigators have also examined 21 experts of which 21 experts consist of religious experts, 4 linguists, 4 criminal experts, two ITE experts, 4 people, then 2 legal political sociologists and 3 forensic medical experts," said Ramadan.

Meanwhile, the West Java Regional Police increased the case of alleged hate speech with reported Bahar bin Smith from investigation to investigation.

In fact, the investigative team has even given a Notice of Investigation Commencement (SPDP) to Bahar bin Smith at his residence in Bogor, last Tuesday, December 28.

In addition, investigators have also scheduled an examination of Bahar bin Smith. It is planned that the speaker will be questioned on Monday, January 3.

In this case, Bahar bin Smith is suspected of violating Article 28 paragraph (2) in conjunction with Article 45A paragraph (2) of the Republic of Indonesia Law Number 19 of 2016 concerning amendments to the Republic of Indonesia Law Number 11 of 2008 concerning Information and Electronic Transactions (ITE) and or Article 14 and Article 15 of the Republic of Indonesia Law number 1 of 1946 concerning Criminal Law Regulations.