Police To Straighten Out 2 Bahar Bin Smith Case Reports

Karo Penmas Police Public Relations Division Brigadier General Ahmad Ramadhan/Polri Public Relations DOK

JAKARTA - The National Police has straightened out information regarding two police reports (LP) related to Bahar bin Smith. Actually there was only one report but the handling was delegated from Polda Metro Jaya to Polda West Java.

"This process, as we know, is based on the LP that was reported to the Polda Metro Jaya on December 17, 2021 and then transferred to the West Java Police," said Karo Penmas, Police Public Relations Division, Brigadier General Ahmad Ramadhan, to reporters, Tuesday, January 4.

The reason for delegating the handling of the case is because the location of the crime in the Marga Asih area, Bandung Regency, which is included in the jurisdiction of the West Java Police.

"Why was it moved? Given that the scene of the case and the witnesses are in the jurisdiction of West Java," said Ramadhan.

In this case, Bahar bin Smith is suspected of violating Article 14 Paragraph 1 and Article 15 paragraph 1 of the Basic Law Number 1 Year 46 in conjunction with Article 55 of the Criminal Code and Article 45A paragraph 2 in conjunction with Article 28 paragraph 2 of the ITE Constitution Juncto Article 55 of the Criminal Code.

Previously, the National Police stated that there were two reports received regarding the alleged hate speech case involving Bahar bin Smith. The two reports against Bahar Smith are in different areas.

"So there are 2 LPs (Police Reports) first at Polda Metro Jaya and second LP at Polda West Java," said Ramadhan.

Of the two reports, said Ramadhan, one of them has advanced to the investigation stage. This case is handled by the West Java Regional Police.

In addition, by being upgraded to an investigation, investigators believe that there has been a criminal violation. In the near future, investigators will summon Bahar bin Smith for questioning.

"What is clear, yesterday the case (at the West Java Regional Police) has been upgraded from investigation to investigation," said Ramadhan.

Meanwhile, Bahar bin Smith has been named a suspect in the alleged hate speech case. In fact, Bahar was decided to be detained.

"His status was upgraded and he became a suspect," said the Head of Public Relations of the West Java Police, Kombes Ibrahim Tompo.

The determination of this suspect, continued Ibrahim, after West Java Police investigators pocketed strong evidence of a criminal offense committed by Bahar bin Smith.

In addition, investigators also decided to arrest Bahar bin Smith. The detention was carried out after the lecturer was examined for 8 hours.

"The examination started at around 1 to 9 o'clock. He has been detained at the West Java Regional Police," said Ibrahim.