After weeks of investigations, the National Police have named incumbent Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama a suspect in a blasphemy case, a move that may jeopardize the gubernatorial candidate’s efforts to seek reelection. Ahok was accused of violating Article 156 of the Criminal Code regarding blasphemy in reference to Article 28 (2) of the Electronic Information and Transactions Law. National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian, however, has strongly denied the accusations and said the police would continue the legal process.
"Although there are different opinions among police investigators, most agreed that the case should be settled in an open trial," the head of the National Police’s Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim), Comr. Gen. Ari Dono, said in a press conference on Wednesday. Ari said the police had also barred Ahok from traveling overseas but did not mention whether they would detain him during the case investigation.
Ahok, a Christian of Chinese descent in the predominantly Muslim country, sparked uproar among Muslim groups after he made a comment on verses in the Quran during a visit to Thousand Islands regency in late September. The police have so far received around a dozen reports regarding the case.
The National Police stated that video footage used as evidence to name incumbent Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama a suspect in a blasphemy case was original and unedited. Soon after Muslim groups denounced Ahok for blasphemy at a recent rally, the police held a digital forensic investigation of a video featuring the governor commenting on a verse in the Quran during a visit to Thousand Islands regency in late September.
In a case screening to determine Ahok's status on Tuesday, the police played a 20-minute section of the 1 hour and 48 minute video, from the fifth minute to the 25th minute. Following the screening, the police decided to name Ahok a suspect because of criminal elements in his speech. Ahok has repeatedly said he did not intend to insult the Quran or Islam and has apologized.
At separate place, President Joko "Jokowi Widodo has called on the public to respect an ongoing police investigation into Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama over blasphemy allegations, as he considers the process has run in a fair and transparent manner.
Jokowi, through presidential spokesman Johan Budi, said that "what has been done by the police has met the necessary principles of transparency, fairness and professionalism. The President asks all parties to respect the legal proceedings that have been completed and are currently underway. The President welcomes the public to monitor the next phase of the ongoing legal process as Ahok has now been named a suspect."
Ahok, meanwhile, called on his supporters to accept the police’s decision, saying he would use all available legal means to challenge the decision, including by filing a pretrial motion.
Ahok said he had not yet figured out his next legal move after the National Police’s Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim) charged him with blasphemy, which could harm his reelection bid next year. However, his lawyer, Sirra Prayuna, said the legal team had yet to determine its next steps. “We just heard Bareskrim’s conclusions. Give us time to think.”
Separately, National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Boy Rafli Amar said the police would welcome a pretrial motion should Ahok file one. Boy added that a pretrial motion would not affect the investigation into the case, claiming that evidence gathered during the preliminary investigation was adequate to declare Ahok a suspect.
Jakarta General Elections Commission chairman Sumarno, meanwhile, said the commission would not drop Ahok as a candidate unless a court found him guilty.
