'€œWe will file a report against the tabloid'€™s chief editor, Setiyardi Budiono, and writer, Darmawan [Sepriyossa], as well as several other people who might have been involved in the publishing of the tabloid,'€ said Jokowi-Kalla attorney Alexander Lay, as quoted by Antara news agency on Saturday evening.

He said he hoped the police would thoroughly investigate smear campaigns perpetrated through, among other things, the tabloid allegedly distributed to damage Jokowi'€™s reputation ahead of the July 9 presidential election.

'€œThe case has instead boosted Jokowi'€™s popularity, however,'€ Alexander said.

There has been much uproar among the public in uncovering the culprits behind the publication of Obor Rakyat, which has published falsehoods such as that Jokowi is actually a Christian of Chinese descent.

Investigations by media and individuals have reveald that the tabloid'€™s chief editor, Setiyardi, is connected to Andi Arief, a special staffer to the President for natural disasters and social assistance, and Velix Wanggai, the President'€™s expert on regional autonomy.

Darmawan, a journalist with online media company inilah.com, claimed that his friend, Setiyardi, had persuaded him to run Obor Rakyat. Setiyardi was also reportedly involved in media campaign activities for former Jakarta governor Fauzi Bowo during his 2012 gubernatorial election bid, in which he lost to Jokowi.

Earlier, presidential spokesman Julian Aldrin Pasha denied rumors that the palace'€™s staff had connections to the tabloid, which was widely circulated in East Java. (gda/ebf)

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