Police Raise Case Of Rizieq Shihab Crowd In Megamendung To Investigation

West Java Regional Police General Criminal Investigation Director Kombes Pol CH Patoppoi. (Bagus Ahmad Rizaldi / Antara)

JAKARTA - The West Java Regional Police's Directorate of General Criminal Investigation (Ditreskrimum) has raised the status of the case for alleged violation of health protocols during Rizieq Shihab's activities in Megamendung, Bogor, West Java, to the investigation stage.

West Java Regional Police General Criminal Investigation Director Kombes CH Patoppoi said the decision was made after his party had conducted case titles and investigated 12 people in the context of investigations since last week.

"We have asked for clarification of 15 people, out of all, 12 people were present, three people were not present, two people were without information, one was absent because it was confirmed by COVID-19, investigators have also invited an epidemiologist, investigators also analyzed CCTV at the scene case), "said Patoppoi at Polda West Java, Bandung City, West Java, reported by Antara, Thursday, November 26.

Based on the investigation, according to him the police found the fact that at the time of Rizieq Shihab's activities, Bogor Regency was still implementing large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) pre-Adaptation to New Habits (AKB).

The Rizieq Shihab activity took place at the Islamic Boarding School Markaz Syariah FPI DPP, Megamendung District, Bogor Regency, Friday, November 13. The activity took place with a crowd of residents at the arrival of Rizieq Shihab.

In implementing the pre-AKB PSBB, according to him, there are a number of rules that must be obeyed by residents when holding activities that invite the community.

Among them are Islamic boarding schools that may operate, but cannot be visited. Then meeting activities may be held, but visitors must be limited to 50 percent of the total capacity, or a maximum of 150 people.

"Then the activity stipulates that the maximum time is three hours, and the organizers are required to make a statement letter ready to comply with the rules, to the COVID-19 Task Force, that is the rule in Bogor," he said.

However, the facts on the ground regarding Rizieq Shihab's activities, according to him, were all suspected of being violated. Starting from the number of people, the time of the event, the organizers did not make a statement letter to the Bogor COVID-19 Task Force.

"Attended by more than 150 people, it has been explained that about 3,000 people attended, and more than three hours. From 09.00 WIB in the morning to 23.00 WIB," said Patoppoi.

Therefore, the police suspect that in this activity there were incidents of criminal acts in the form of attempts to obstruct the government's efforts in overcoming the COVID-19 outbreak, as well as suspected violations of health quarantine administrators.

"Investigators will carry out investigations, will notify the prosecutor's office, and proceed until later the activities for determining the suspect's title," said Patoppoi.

As for this case, the police used Article 14 Paragraph 1 and Paragraph 2 of Law Number 4 of 1984 concerning infectious disease outbreaks, Article 93 of Law Number 6 of 2018 concerning health quarantine, and Article 216 of the Criminal Code.