Defamed To Have Many Wives To The Point Of Being Unable To Pay For Their Children's Schooling, Erick Tohir Reports Faizal Assegaf To The Criminal Investigation Department

Ifdhal Kasim as the attorney for the Minister of SOEs Erick Thohir while at the National Police Criminal Investigation Unit. (Photo: Mery Handayani/VOI)

JAKARTA - Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Erick Thohir reported Faizal Assegaf for defamation to the National Police Headquarters, Friday, August 26.

The report was submitted by Ifdhal Kasim, Mahmuddin, and Jamalul Kamal Farza, as the recipient of the power of attorney from Erick Thohir.

Ifdhal explained, the report was about Faizal Assegaf's upload on his Instagram social media account which specifically made very serious accusations against Erick Thohir.

First, Erick Tohir was accused of having many wives, and all of them were married in a supernatural way.

Second, continued Ifdhal, the son of Erick Thohir's first wife until now his school fees have not been paid.

According to Ifdhal, this is a very vicious slander.

The video uploaded by Faizal is a statement by lawyer Kamarudduin Simanjuntak who said that the President Director of PT Taspen (Persero) managed funds for presidential candidates of Rp. 300 trillion.

In the video, said Ifdhal, Kamaruddin did not mention Erick Thohir's name, but Faizal added to the narration in the video by writing containing vile slander and very bad news to Erick Thohir.

"Faizal Assegaf has committed a heinous slander against our client, Minister of SOEs Erick Thohir. On his Instagram account, Faizal uploaded a video speech from lawyer Kamaruddin H. Simanjuntak SH which contains accusations against the President Director of Taspen, who, according to him, managed the presidential candidate's funds of Rp. 300 trillion," said Ifdhal at the Bareskrim Police Headquarters, Jakarta, Friday, August 26.

Ifdhal said his client was disturbed and insulted by the video uploaded by Faizal Assegaf.

According to him, Faizal had attacked Erick Thohir's personal integrity.

"Mr. Erick Thohir is very disturbed and insulted by postings on social media belonging to Faizal Assegaf, who have intentionally carried out an act of attacking personal integrity, honor or good name or aanranding of goede naam," said Ifdhal. Not only that, continued Ifdhal, Faizal also viciously alleges that Erick had many wives married in a occult manner.

The accusation, said Ifdhal, deeply hurt Erick and his family.

The figure of Erick Thohir, said Ifdhal, is a good and responsible father and very caring for his wife and children.

Ifdhal added, Erick Thohir has been living a harmonious household with his wife, as well as two sons and two daughters. uploaded by Faizal," he said. According to Ifdhal, Erick has been focusing on working as the Minister of SOEs, although many parties have asked him to be willing to become one of the candidates for national leadership in 2024.

"However, Pak Erick has yet to make any political decisions and is more focused on working to fix SOEs and make SOEs into state-owned companies that can be relied on and beneficial for the country and the people," he explained. across the state-owned enterprises. According to him, many changes in the BUMN body are the result of Erick's hard work. From a company that continues to lose money and is always assisted by subsidies from the state, it has now turned into a good and profitable company.

Ifdhal said, Erick reported Faizal related to defamation and the criminal act of spreading information aimed at causing hatred or hostility based on SARA, as intended. in Article 27 paragraph (3) and Article 28 paragraph (2) of the Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 11 of 2008 concerning Information and Electronic Transactions as amended by the Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 19 of 2016 concerning Amendments to Law Number 11 of 2008 Regarding Information and Electronic Transactions.

Erick Thohir, said Ifdhal, highly values freedom of speech as the essence of democracy.

However, freedom that is misused and harms other people, said Ifdhal, certainly cannot be allowed and will actually injure democracy.

What Faizal Assegaf did, said Ifdhal, was not a form of freedom of opinion protected by the Law and the Constitution, but it clearly violated the criminal law and the ITE Law.

"This report is also a serious commitment from Mr. Erick in eradicating the issue of hoaxes, fake news, and even leading to very heinous slander," said Ifdhal, who is also the former chairman of the National Human Rights Commission.