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Rizieq is in Jeddah: Police
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Islam Defenders Front (FPI) leader Rizieq Shihab (third right) and House of Representatives member Bambang Soesatyo (second right) speak in front of thousands of people as they participate in a rally in front of the House compound in Jakarta on Feb. 21. (JP/Seto Wardhana)
T
he Jakarta Police confirmed on Tuesday that Islam Defenders Front (FPI) leader Rizieq Shihab, who has ignored several police summons for questioning over an alleged pornographic text conversation, was in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Jakarta Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Argo Yuwono said the police had not decided whether they would send a team to Jeddah to bring Rizieq back to Indonesia.
”We are waiting for the investigators’ decision because his status is still as a witness,” Argo said. The police will coordinate with Interpol and the immigration office in handling the case, he added.
National Police spokesperson Martinus Sitompul separately said Rizieq should respect the legal process and immediately come back to Indonesia because a warrant had been issued following his failure to show up for police questioning twice as a witness in the pornography case.
Rizieq’s lawyer, Kapitra Ampera, said Rizieq departed for Saudi Arabia on umrah (minor haj) with his family on April 27 and had not returned to Indonesia.
“We have communicated with his lawyer several times. We want him to fulfill his obligation as an Indonesian citizen and comply with the law,” Martinus said at the National Police headquarters on Tuesday. (dis/ebf)
