A Series Of Defense Rizieq Shihab Who Considered Prosecutors As 'Curhatan'

The atmosphere of Rizieq Shihab's follow-up hearing with the agenda of witness examination from the accused at the East Jakarta District Court (Photo: Yogi Rachman/Antara)

JAKARTA - Former High Priest of FPI, Rizieq Shihab, delivered a memorandum of objection or pleidoi in the trial of alleged violations of health protocols (prokes) in Megamendung, Bogor. But, the pleidoi was only considered as unek-unek by the public prosecutor (JPU).

In pledoi, Rizieq Shihab alludes to various things. Starting from the case of violation of the prokes which is considered only an act of revenge to ask to be released from all charges.

At the beginning of his pleidoinya, Rizieq called the violation of the prokes that ensnared him an act of revenge that is political.

"After I followed this very laborious legal process, ranging from police calls and arrests and detentions, to the holding of trials to pleidoi readings," Rizieq said in a hearing at the East Jakarta District Court.

"I increasingly believe and believe that this is a political case wrapped up and packed with legal cases so that the law only becomes a tool of legalization and justification to satisfy the oligarchy's political vendetta against me and my friends," he continued.

The act of revenge, rizieq said, related to the failure of Basuki Tjahaja Purnama aka Ahok to become governor of DKI Jakarta for the second time. Because, Rizieq and his friends most strongly rejectEd Ahok.

Rizieq said, doing so because Ahok has denounced Islam. In addition, Ahok is also considered an arrogant and corrupt figure, often spoken harshly and dirtyly.

In fact, Ahok is considered as an extension of the oligarchs' hand. Now, for that rejection, Ahok failed to become the governor of DKI Jakarta who was then paired with Djarot Saiful Hidayat.

"From then on I and my friends became the target of criminalization, so that throughout 2017 a wide variety of case engineering was addressed to us," Rizieq said.

In addition, in his memorandum of defense, Rizieq mentioned the reason behind choosing 'hijrah' to Mecca. He claimed to avoid bloodshed.

Because, he has thwarted Basuki Tjahaja Purnama aka Ahok to become governor of DKI Jakarta and criminalized him constitutionally.

The revelation of this reasoning began when Rizieq alluded to the plan to stop fighting in politics turned out to be missed.

Because, after thwarting Ahok to become governor of DKI Jakarta and constitutionally criminalizing him in 2017, it caused an escalation of the increasingly hot politics.

"As a result the political escalation is heating up and the community at the grassroots is also increasingly divided, making it everywhere prone to clashes between supporters," he said.

For this reason, Rizieq decided to take a residence permit visa and bring his family to Mecca. Hopefully, after his departure all conditions will become normal again.

"Therefore, my family and I chose the road for a while to emigrate to the Holy City of Mecca, in order to avoid horizontal conflict that could lead to riots and bloodshed," he said.

But, his prediction missed. After Rizieq left it was claimed many acts of terror were directed at his comrades. In fact, it leads to criminal acts.

"Instead my friends in Indonesia continue to be terrorized and intimidated until criminalized, there was even an attempted murder of an IT expert witness who defended me by being stabbed on the highway in front of his wife," Rizieq said.

"Not to mention there was sabotage in reunion event 212 in 2019 by detonating pipe bombs at the event site at Monas," rizieq continued.

Later, Rizieq also alluded to the existence of high-level intelligence operations that always haunted him while in Saudi Arabia. Because, various acts of terror that are not clear origin often hit him.

One of the terrors he experienced was being accused of making fake IDENTITY cards. In fact, he used a visa to stay in Saudi Arabia

"Someone claiming to be a Saudi security officer came to our house and accused us of making a fake IQOMAH that is a kind of MECCA ID card," Rizieq said.

Rizieq also claimed to have been arrested by police for no apparent reason. In fact, he was also briefly detained in a Saudi arabian police detention cell for the installation of an ISIS flag.

"I have also been arrested by police in the middle of the street for no apparent reason in the presence of my Wife and daughters, and at the top there is the installation of the Black Flag of ISIS on the outer wall of my residence in the Holy City of Mecca," he said.

"So I was arrested and handcuffed to my feet and blindfolded with a cloth, then held in a Saudi political prison cell in the Holy City of Mecca for a day last night," Rizieq continued.

The latest act of terror is the loss of data on himself and the family of a prospective passenger. Rizieq believes all of these things are the work of intelligence operations because it's impossible for ordinary hackers to do so.

"The systematic and covert removal of my name and family from Saudi's computer systems and flight data base is not the work of ordinary hackers, let alone a buzzer class, but it is all a high-level intelligence operation," he said

Not only while in Saudi Arabia, Rizieq's suspicions are stronger if there is a mastermind behind the case. Because, when it has been determined suspect and detained, the police apply extra security against him.

In fact, Rizieq judged being treated like a terrorist prisoner. In fact, he's just a suspect in a prosthrant violation.

"On Saturday, December 12, 2020, I accompanied by lawyers to the Police Department of Metro Jaya voluntarily to carry out the examination, but I was immediately arrested and detained until now," said Rizieq.

After his arrest, Rizieq, who has been designated as a suspect since December 9, 2020, was immediately detained at rutan Polda Metro Jaya.

At that time, Rizieq felt that during his detention and security against him was excessive. Because, for the first month, he had to be in total isolation.

At that time, no one should enter it. Including the family and the personal team of doctors from Team Mer-C.

In fact, the officer was also prohibited from greeting himself. Except during Friday prayers, Rizieq was allowed out of the cell and escorted to pray with other prisoners.

"My case is just about violations of the prokes but being treated like a terrorist prisoner," he said.

In fact, the officer was also prohibited from greeting himself. Except during Friday prayers, Rizieq was allowed out of the cell and escorted to pray with other prisoners.

"My case is only about Prokes violations but being treated like a terrorist prisoner," he said.

At the end of his memorandum of defense, Rizieq asked the East Jakarta District Court judge to acquit him of all charges against the public prosecutor (JPU). Because, he believes, none of the indictments are proven.

Rizieq considers, the application of the Article on Health Quarantine, irrelevant. Because, the crowd happens spontaneously.

"In addition, the defendant never invited or invited the public to crowd in Megamendung, and the defendant also never obstructed the implementation of health quarantine," rizieq said.

Then, for the second indictment about the infectious disease outbreak is also considered unworkable. Because, Rizieq claims never to deliberately ignore health protocols.

In fact, Rizieq also mentioned never fighting or ignoring the government's encouragement. Thus, the third indictment was considered unworkable.

"The accused also never, did not comply with the orders or requests of officers who were carrying out state duties and never prevented, obstructed, or disrepresented the duties of state officials," he said.

For these reasons, Rizieq judged all the prosecutor's indictments did not meet the elements. Moreover, it is reinforced by the testimony of witnesses and experts during the trial process.

"Therefore, we ask because Allah SWT for the establishment of justice so that the noble panel of judges decides for defendants with pure free verdicts, released from all charges, released from prison unconditionally and restored the good name of honor dignity," said Rizieq.

Meanwhile, the public prosecutor (JPU) assessed the memorandum of defense (pleidoi) filed by Rizieq Shihab and his legal team contained only a speech. For prosecutors, all the content of the defense is subjective.

"The defendant said the Public prosecutor was manipulative by simply taking witness testimony from the favorable side of the evidentiary," said one prosecutor at the trial.

"Basically everything that the defendant said in his pleidoinya was unek-unek and curhatan," continued the prosecutor.

For that reason, the prosecution team asked the panel of judges to reject the entire contents of the pleidoi. In addition, the judge was also asked to declare Rizieq Shihab guilty of violating the Health Quarantine Act.

"Based on the matters outlined, we the public prosecutor in this case concluded and argued that the lawsuits that we have filed are appropriate," the prosecutor said.