Police rearrest cleric for marrying 12 y.o. girl

SEMARANG: Police have again arrested Pujiono Cahyono Widianto, also known as cleric Syech Puji, for failure to cooperate during his probation following his marriage to 12-year-old Lutfiana Ulfa.

The police detained Syech Puji on Tuesday night along with his two employees, Dwi and Slamet, who were suspected to have damaged the officers' cars during the arrest.

Police were also trying to determine Ulfa's whereabouts. Instead they brought in Ulfa's father, Suroso, for further questioning.

Semarang Police chief Sr. Comr. Edward Syah Pernong demanded Syech Puji's first wife and his lawyer Sinto Ariwibawa Umi Hani present Ulfa during the witness examination at the office.

In March, the police first questioned Syech Puji who had married Ulfa seven months earlier.

The police then arrested him but later granted him probation at his lawyers request. Syech Puji, however, did not report to the police once a week as required by the officers. -JP