Indonesian Police Ask for Interpol's Help to Bring Back Firebrand Cleric
Jakarta. Police submitted a dossier on firebrand cleric Rizieq Shihab's alleged defamation of Indonesia's national ideology Pancasila to the West Java Prosecutor's Office on Tuesday (09/05) and have asked for Interpol's help to bring him back to the country if he fails to return from a recent overseas trip.
Rizieq – the leader of hardline group Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) – was named a suspect in the case in January.
"We submitted the dossier to the prosecutors two days ago. They're still evaluating it to see if it's complete," Yunus said on Thursday.
Rizieq was charged with violating Article 154 and Article 130 of the Criminal Code on defamation of a national symbol or a public figure.
Interpol's help
Meanwhile, National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Setyo Wasisto said they have enlisted the help of Interpol to bring back Rizieq to Indonesia in relation to a pornography case.
Rizieq had recently traveled to Saudi Arabia for umrah, the Muslim mini pilgrimage, and is understood to be on his way to Malaysia.
The cleric had been summoned twice by the police to no avail.
"If he doesn't come back of his own accord will ask NCB Interpol to issue a red notice," Setyo said in Jakarta on Friday.
The red notice is an instruction to all countries who are members of Interpol to detain a wanted person and extradite him to the country where he is charged with a crime.
However, the red notice can only be issued when someone has already been named a suspect.
Watch Indonesia Highlights at 8 p.m. tonight on the Jakarta Globe News Channel to find out more.
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