Joseph Paul Zhang, The Man Who Claims The 26th Prophet Is Being Hunted By The National Police And Interpol Criminal Investigation Unit

Kabareskrim Polri, Komjen Pol. Agus Andrianto. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Criminal Investigation Police have partnered with Interpol to hunt down the whereabouts of Jozeph Paul Zhang, a man who claims to be the 26th prophet through a viral video on his YouTube channel.

Kabareskrim Polri, Komjen Pol. Agus Andrianto said that from the beginning his party suspected Jozeph Paul Zhang was not in Indonesia.

Therefore, his party coordinated with the immigration authorities who knew the data on the crossing of Jozeph Paul Zhang had left Indonesia since January 2018. However, continued Agus, this did not prevent his party from exploring the case and was preparing investigative documents.

"The investigation mechanism will continue even if the person concerned is abroad," said Agus, quoted from Antara, Sunday, April 18.

Agus said that Bareskrim Polri was cooperating with foreign police and made a wanted list (DPO) for Jozeph Paul Zhang so that he could be deported from the country where he was.

"The cooperation mechanism for the foreign police can work, whether the country where he is concerned lives to deport him. The DPO will be issued later," said Agus.

Regarding whether the National Police had received reports from the public about the viral video of religious blasphemy by Jozeph Paul Zhang claiming to be the 26th prophet, Agus explained that investigators could take action by reporting findings related to the intolerant content.

According to him, intolerant content that creates social conflict and community unrest can damage unity and can be prosecuted according to the Chief of Police's Circular (SE).

"If something like that can be made a report on the findings of investigators on intolerant content, causing social conflict and community unrest, destroying unity and integrity, according to the SE Kapolri, it will be dealt with firmly," said Agus.

It was reported earlier that Bareskrim Polri studied a video of a man claiming to be the 26th prophet and completing his investigative documents. The video of a man named Jozeph Paul Zhang admitted that the 26th prophet was widely circulated on social media and viral.

Jozeph claimed to be the 26th prophet who was conveyed in the discussion forum via zoom which was also broadcast on his personal YouTube channel.

The man opened a zoom discussion forum entitled "Fasting the Lalim Islam". He also challenged anyone who dared to report himself to the police regarding blasphemy by claiming to be the 26th prophet.