HOK Terrorist In Batu Jatim Joins Telegram Group For Cross-National Radical Groups

Spokesperson for Densus 88 Anti-terror Kombes Aswin Siregar (right)

JAKARTA - The National Police's Anti-terror Detachment 88 said the suspect HOK joined the Telegram social media group from a cross-border radical group.

The goal is to satisfy his curiosity regarding propaganda content and others.

"The person concerned is still curious, joining several telegram groups of radical groups across countries again," Densus 88 Anti-terror Spokesperson Kombes Aswin Siregar told reporters, Monday, August 5.

This curiosity from the suspect began when he joined a social media group in November 2023. At that time, he was motivated to explore Daulah Islamiyah.

"The person concerned joined one of the groups, then in the group there was interaction between the suspect and someone," he said.

"Then the person concerned is offered to come back to a more specific social media group. In fact, it is paid. The person concerned pays with the pocket money. Like a social media application, if you want to be a member, you pay," said Aswin.

From the social media group, the suspect HOK received a lot of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) propaganda content and other radical groups. Thus, greater curiosity emerged.

"The suspect HOK received a lot of videos related to ISIS propaganda, Daulah Islamiyah, such as videos of execution, ISIS wars, about allegiance, and videos explaining how the actions or activities carried out by ISIS are in accordance with Islamic law," said Aswin.

Until finally, the curious HOK suspect decided to join a cross-border radical group.

As a reminder, HOK is a terrorist suspect who was arrested in Batu, Malang, East Java, on Thursday, August 1. From the examination, the young man planned to commit suicide in a place of worship

In this case, HOK is suspected of under Article 15 in conjunction with Article 7 and/or Article 9 of Law Number 5 of 2018 concerning Amendments to Law Number 15 of 2003 concerning Stipulation of Government Regulations in Lieu of Law Number 1 of 2002 concerning Eradication of Criminal Acts of Terrorism into Laws.