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Police investigate connection of woman linked to hoax syndicate with Anies
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Police personnel hold a coordination meeting ahead of the Jakarta gubernatorial runoff election on April 19 at a polling station in Gambir. (JP/Jerry Adiguna)
T
he National Police are investigating whether there is a connection between a housewife suspected of being linked to Saracen, a news syndicate accused of spreading hoaxes and fake news, and the Jakarta governor-elect Anies Baswedan.
The police’s cybercrime division arrested housewife Asma Dewi on Monday on suspicion of uploading hoaxes and hate speeches on her Facebook account, as well as transferring Rp 75 million [US$ 5,682] to Saracen.
On her Facebook account, Asma made a post stating that she supported Anies and running mate Sandiaga Uno in the polarizing Jakarta gubernatorial election in April.
“[Investigation into her link to Anies] will be one of our points in further investigating the case,” police spokesman Insp. Gen. Setyo Wasisto said as quoted by tribunnews.com.
However, he said the police did not want to make any preliminary conclusion about a possible connection.
The police, Setyo further said, had yet to find any evidence that Asma was active in Tamasya Al-Maidah (Al-Maidah Tour), in which conservative Muslim groups deployed members to “safeguard” polling stations during the runoff election on April 19.
Muslim conservative groups supported Anies in the election against incumbent governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, who was later imprisoned for blasphemy. (agn)
