Hoax Ustaz Abdul Somad Arrested By Police, Riau Islands Police Tracks Spreader Accounts Through Cyber Patrol

Dirkrimsus Polda Kepri Kombes Pol Nasriadi (ANTARA/Yude)

The Directorate of Special Criminal Investigation of the Riau Islands Police carried out cyber patrols to track social media accounts that spread fake news Ustaz Abdul Somad was arrested for providing food assistance during a demonstration by residents of Rempang. "We are still conducting cyber patrols to track these accounts, it still takes time," said Dirkrimsus Polda Kepri Kombes Nasriadi when contacted in Batam City, Riau Islands, Antara, Wednesday, September 20. He explained from what they had explored, the social media accounts that made fake news were not only in Riau Islands, but outside Riau Islands. As a result, the police need time to find out the account owner. "These hoax spreaders can spread from anywhere, there are things they may be in Riau Islands or outside Riau Islands. So this is what we are investigating," he said. As for the many accounts that spread false content, Nasriadi said that the number did not reach hundreds. "In less than hundreds, about a dozen or dozens are estimated," he said. Meanwhile, the Head of Public Relations of the Riau Islands Police, Kombes Zahwani Pandra Arsyad, asked the entire community not to spread the fake news anymore. If it is still being carried out, then his party will take legal steps. "I ask all people who receive or receive fake news, not to spread it. Because, now the situation on Pulau Rempang has started to become conducive, there should be no more news that can make things hot again," he explained.

He said that there was indeed a summons regarding the provision of food assistance during the action, but not Ustadz Abdul Somad but his colleague, Burhan. "It is true that Brother Burhan, who is Ustadz Abdul Somad's colleague, was summoned for clarification, and the person concerned was cooperative," he said.