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North Sumatra woman arrested for allegedly defaming national flag, president
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A resident raises Indonesia's red and white flag on dozens of poles in Poetoek Suko, Mojokerto, East Java, on Aug. 16. (Antara/Zabur Karuru)
T
he North Sumatra police have arrested a 28-year-old woman in Deli Serdang regency, North Sumatra, for allegedly defaming the flag of the Republic of Indonesia as well as the country’s president and vice president.
The woman allegedly posted a video on her Instagram account that shows her putting the flag on the floor, trampling on it, pouring soil onto it, burning and cooking it and using it to wipe glass. She also reportedly uploaded another video in which she sprinkled chili, cassava leaves and vegetable chunks on photos of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and Vice President Ma’ruf Amin.
The cybercrime unit head of the North Sumatra Police, Comr. Bambang Rubiyanto, said the woman was detained at the police headquarters as investigators started the probe into the case.
Read also: Activists, lecturer raise concerns about criminalization of free speech in universities
The arrest on Friday was based on a report filed to police on the same day, according to North Sumatra Police spokesperson Adj. Sr. Comr. MP Nainggolan.
The preliminary investigation suggested that the woman’s motive for defaming the state symbol and state leaders was to seek global attention, he said.
“Her action was a criminal act and [the suspect] will be charged with violating the Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) law,” Nainggolan told The Jakarta Post. (aly)
