Rizieq's Crowd In Megamendung Rises Investigation, Police: Witnesses Who Are Absent Will Be Forcibly Picked Up

Rizieq Shihab during a speech at his residence (Photo: Irfan Meidianto)

JAKARTA - The West Java Regional Police have raised a crowd attended by Rizieq Shihab in Megamendung, Bogor, West Java to an investigation, for not implementing health protocols. Then who will the police target to become a suspect?

Head of Public Relations of the West Java Regional Police, Kombes Erdi Adrimulan Chaniago, said that after raising the case to investigation, his party would summon a number of people as witnesses.

However, he did not mention who the people would be questioned as witnesses. However, he reminded that the witnesses who were summoned should attend. This is because if he does not attend three times his party will forcefully pick him up.

"For example, the first summons were absent, we called the second time (absent), then the third call we carried out a forced inspection," said Erdi on a telephone line, Jakarta, Thursday, November 26.

He was informed whether in investigating this case his party would summon Rizieq Shihab as a witness, he could not confirm yet. This is because the examination of witnesses depends on the needs of the investigator.

Including whether FPI Grand Imam Rizeq Shihab has the opportunity to become a suspect, he cannot say. This is because this case has just advanced to the level of investigation. His party still needs witness and expert testimony to determine a person as a suspect.

"Oh, it's still a long way off. Later the investigators will first examine the other witnesses. If it is necessary we will summon it," he said.

The Rizieq Shihab activity took place at the Islamic Boarding School Markaz Syariah FPI DPP, Megamendung District, Bogor Regency, Friday, November 13. This activity occurred in a large crowd of people who did not apply health protocols.

In the process of investigating this case, the police have summoned West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil. To reporters, Kang Emil said that investigators were asked for information for 7 hours and were asked 29 questions.

In investigating 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.