Jakarta. Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama has been named a suspect in blasphemy case over a campaign speech which quoted a Koranic verse while campaigning in Pramuka Island, Kepulauan Seribu.

National Police's criminal investigation unit chief Comr. Gen. Ari Dono Sukamto said Basuki allegedly violated Article 156 of the Criminal Code Procedure on blasphemy and Article 28 of Electronic Information Law on cyber harassment.

“We lifted the pre-investigation to investigation and named Ahok as suspect and banned him from leaving Indonesia,” Ari Dono told reporters at National Police headquarters on Wednesday morning (16/11).

He added there were sharp debates during the case deliberation among 27 police investigators who were led by the General Crime Director Brig. Gen. Agus Andrianto.

The case appeared to public following a video of Basuki's speech in Pramuka Island two months ago.

The video — in which Basuki said no one should manipulate verses from the Koran for political gain — was reportedly edited by Buni Yani to show the governor discrediting a verse from the holy book during a meeting with local residents.