Kominfo Takes Down Hoax News Ustaz Maaher Dies Of Being Injected With The COVID-19 Vaccine

Ustaz Maaher At Thuwailibi alias Soni Ernata (Photo: @ustadzmaheer_)

JAKARTA - There are uploads in the mass line claiming that Ustaz Maaher At-Thuwailibi died from being injected with the COVID-19 Sinovac vaccine from China. The post circulating on Facebook also shows a picture of resistance when it comes to being injected.

Launching a report from the Hoax Issues page of the Directorate General of Information Applications, Ministry of Communication and Informatics (Kemenkominfo). The claim that Ustaz Maaher alias Soni Ernata died from being injected with the COVID-19 Sinovac vaccine is false.

In fact, Ustaz Maaher was sick. The cause of death has been disclosed by the Police. It's just that the police are reluctant to announce the disease because they are considered sensitive.

"I cannot convey the pain because this is a sensitive illness. This could be related to the good name of the deceased's family," said Head of Public Relations of the Indonesian Police, Insp. Gen. Pol. Argo Yuwono during a press conference, last Tuesday, February 9.

report on hoax issues of the Director General of Aptika, Kemenkominfo

By not clearly conveying the cause of Maaher's death, there was mixed news about the matter. The National Police also issued an appeal not to easily believe the news that was circulating. This is because these reports cannot be accounted for.

"Regarding the death of the person concerned, it has been explained by the police that the person concerned died due to illness," said Karo Penmas, Police Public Relations Division, Brigadier General Rusdi Hartono.

"The public should not easily believe irresponsible news, if there is any doubt ask the competent party," he continued.

Rusdi also reminded the public not to participate in spreading baseless news. Because, later on, this could lead to the spread of false information or hoaxes that lead to crimes.

"And don't spread fake news, because it is a criminal act," he said.

It is known that while in custody, on January 20, 2021, Soni complained of illness. Then prison officials including a team of doctors took him to the Said Soekanto Police Hospital, East Jakarta for medical treatment. After a week of being treated at the Police Hospital and declared cured on January 27, Soni was again taken to the Bareskrim Detention Center to continue detention.

On February 4, the AGO stated that Soni's investigation file was complete or P-21. On the same day, the suspect's responsibility and evidence was submitted from the Criminal Investigation Unit to the Prosecutor's Office or stage II submission. Thus, Soni's status as a detainee of the Prosecutor's Office is entrusted to be re-detained at the Bareskrim Detention Center for 20 days from February 4 to February 23, 2021.

Then Soni complains of pain again. On February 6, the doctor advised Soni to be taken to the Said Soekanto Police Hospital to continue treatment but Soni always refused and wanted to remain in the detention center and be treated by the National Police doctor.

"But the person concerned always refused and wanted to remain at the Criminal Investigation Detention Center and of course receive treatment from a police doctor," said Rusdi.

It turned out that fate said differently until Ustad Maaher finally breathed his last breath at the Criminal Investigation Unit on Monday, February 8 at 19.30 WIB.