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ANDUNG: Islam Defenders Front (FPI) member, Muhammad Asep “Utep” Abdurahman, the main suspect in the destruction of the Ahmadiyah An-Nasir mosque in Bandung, West Java, last Thursday, faces triple charges.

Utep was charged under Article 170 of the Criminal Code on assault with the maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment, as well as Article 406 on the destruction of private property and Article 335 on offensive behavior, Bandung Police chief of detectives Adj. Sr. Comr. Widjonarko said on Monday.

On Thursday, on the eve of Idul Adha (Islamic Day of Sacrifice), members of the FPI raided An-Nasir mosque, damaging the place of worship and preventing Ahmadis from celebrating Idul Adha.

The FPI members took three Ahmadis to the Astana Anyar Police precinct and tried to force them to sign an agreement not to hold Idul Adha prayers or slaughter sacrificial animals on the next day. The Ahmadis’ rejection of the agreement reportedly enraged Utep and led him to smash the mosque’s windows.

Widjonarko said the attack was the third by the same group but this incident was the worst. The police, however, have not named any other suspects in the attack.