TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Police begin investigation into defamation of Jokowi
Change text size
Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone
Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!
Musician Ahmad Dhani (fifth left) and his wife Mulan Jameela (sixth left) participate in a rally on Nov. 4 in Jakarta. The police have begun to investigate a case of defamation allegedly committed by Dhani against President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo. (Tempo.com/Indri Maulidar)
T
he police have begun to investigate a case of defamation allegedly committed by musician Ahmad Dhani against President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, by summoning several witnesses, including Islam Defenders Front (FPI) head Riziek Shihab and artist Ratna Sarumpaet.
Ratna said the police had also summoned National Mandate Party (PAN) supervisory board head Amien Rais, Muslim cleric Bachtiar Nasir, lawyer Eggi Sudjana, Dhani's wife Mulan Jameela and the musician himself on Thursday.
"We have decided not to go because the summons letter is unclear," Ratna said via telephone on Thursday, arguing that the letter did not contain the reported person's name.
(Read also: Jokowi supporters report singer Ahmad Dhani for alleged defamation)
Meanwhile, Eggi, who arrived at the police office at 10.30 a.m., said he believed Jokowi should personally report Dhani for defamation if he felt insulted, as regulated by Article 207 of the Criminal Code on defamation against leaders or institutions.
In this case, he said, the police had followed up on a report from a resident named Riano Osha.
"In a defamation case, the person who feels insulted is the person who should report to the police. Just like president SBY who himself reported Zaenal Maarif to the Jakarta Police," Eggi said, referring to a police report made by then president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in 2007. (jun)
