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Police step up investigation into Rizieq Shihab
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Under investigation – Islam Defenders Front (FPI) leader Habib Rizieq (left) arrives at the West Java Police headquarters in Bandung, West Java, to attend a questioning on Jan. 12. Rizieq was questioned regarding his alleged insult of Pancasila, as reported by Sukmawati Soekarnoputri.
(Antara/Fahrul Jayadiputra)
T
he police have raised the status of the investigation into Islam Defenders Front (FPI) leader Rizieq Shihab, who allegedly insulted the state ideology Pancasila, from a preliminary investigation to a full investigation.
“[The case status] was stepped up few days ago,” West Java Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Yusri Yunus said on Thursday as reported by tribunnews.com, adding that the investigation warrant would be issued early next week.
Although the case status has been raised, Yusri said Rizieq had not automatically been named a suspect.
“He must be questioned first. For now, he is still a witness,” Yusri added.
(Read also: West Java Police question FPI leader over alleged insult to Pancasila)
Earlier, Sukmawati Soekarnoputri, the daughter of first president Sukarno, reported Rizieq to the police for insulting the Pancasila in a speech the latter made, the video of which has since gone viral on the internet.
In their preliminary investigation last week, the West Java Police questioned Rizieq at their headquarters in Bandung. After the questioning, FPI supporters clashed with supporters of the Indonesian General Society Movement (GMBI), who had come to support the police’s investigation into Rizieq.
Following the clash, FPI supporters reportedly attacked and set on fire the GMBI office in Ciampea, Bogor, West Java. The police arrested around 20 FPI supporters involved in the attack.
On Monday, Rizieq and hundreds of FPI supporters staged a rally in front of the National Police headquarters in South Jakarta, demanding the dismissal of West Java Police Chief Insp. Gen. Anton Charliyan. The group accused Anton of taking sides in the clash. (jun)
