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Police probe Saracen’s link to anti-Ahok figures
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Hundreds of members of Islamic organizations stage against then Jakarta governor Basuk "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama. (JP/Michael Hillary Hegarty)
T
he National Police are investigating an alleged link between a number of people behind the sectarian rallies against former Jakarta governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama last year and an online “syndicate” accused of creating and spreading hoaxes and hate speech for money.
The police claimed that the Saracen group, which is led by Jasriadi, 32, from Pekanbaru, Riau, controlled 800,000 social media accounts for use in their work.
Jasriadi is believed to be the manager of online news portal saracennews.com.
The website lists lawyer Eggi Sudjana and retired army general Ampi Tanudjiwa as advisors in its management “structure.”
Read also: Lawyers support police's fight against radicalism, intolerance
Eggi is the lawyer of Rizieq Shihab, the leader of the hardline Islam Defenders Front (FPI), which led the anti-Ahok rallies.
It also names Rijal Kobar, who was arrested on treason charges during the rallies, as a member of its expert council.
