“Our investigation had concluded that there are six suspects in this case. The first is MRS [Rizieq], who has been charged under Articles 160 and 216 of the Criminal Code,” Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Yusri Yunus said on Thursday, as reported by kompas.com.

Violations of Article 160 on the incitement of criminal acts are punishable by up to six years of imprisonment. Article 216 of the Criminal Code stipulates a prison sentence of up to four months and two weeks for those found guilty of obstructing law enforcement.

Rizieq is once again at the center of public scrutiny following his return from self-exile in Saudi Arabia on Nov. 10. Not long after his arrival, the FPI held an event to commemorate Prophet Muhammad’s birthday and the wedding of Rizieq’s daughter in Petamburan on Nov. 15. The event attracted thousands of his supporters and drew ire from segments of the public. He was fined Rp 50 million (US$3,545) by the Jakarta administration for disregarding health protocols.

In addition to the controversial leader, other FPI members named suspects include the event’s head organizer, identified as HU, the organizer’s secretary A and the organizer’s security division head MS. Two more suspects are the organizer’s guarantor SL and the organizer’s event division head HI.

"We have upgraded the status of these six people from witnesses to suspects,” Yusri said, adding that the move came following an investigation by the Jakarta Police’s general crimes unit on Tuesday.

Police have summoned Rizieq several times for questioning regarding the alleged health protocol violations, but he has yet to heed the call. The crowds at the FPI headquarters and at Rizieq’s residence in Petamburan, as well as at another public gathering at his Islamic boarding school in Megamendung, West Java, prompted a police investigation into the alleged violations.

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