His gout is not under control owing to which he cannot get down from bed, let alone walk. Hence, it is rather strange when he is accused of being a provocateur of the May 22 riot, as he was not there. He cannot even get off the bed
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Cathy Ahadianty, wife of Mustofa Nahrawardaya, a member of the national campaign team (BPN) of presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto, has sought his release over grounds of being falsely implicated as provocateur and his ill-health.

Mustofa did not engage in any acts to incite the people, as he was ill over the last several days and hence had not taken part in the May 21-22 demonstration, she remarked after visiting her husband at the National Police's Crime Investigation Department (Bareskrim) office on Sunday evening.

Cathy remarked that her husband was arrested from her home on Sunday (May 26) at 3 a.m. local time. She had obtained a copy of a police warrant stating that the arrest was made on the basis of a report filed by an individual to the police on May 25, 2019, against Mustofa for tweeting a hate speech and/or hoax concerning the May 22 rally on his Twitter account on May 24, 2019.

Cathy visited her husband to hand him medicines for treating gout, high blood pressure, and diabetes.

"His gout is not under control owing to which he cannot get down from bed, let alone walk. Hence, it is rather strange when he is accused of being a provocateur of the May 22 riot, as he was not there. He cannot even get off the bed," she emphasized.

Djuju Purwantoro, Mustofa's lawyer, claimed that his client was interrogated on Sunday, including for several tweets he had posted.

Purwantoro viewed the arrest as being made too soon, as it was based on a report filed on May 25, 2019. The police have charged his client over violation of Law No. 11 of 2008 on Electronic Transaction and Information (UU ITE).

The lawyer has appealed to police investigators to apply the principle of equality under the law.

Protestors clashed with the police in Jakarta during the rally staged on May 21-22 after the General Election Commission (KPU) announced the results of the 2019 presidential elections.

The police confirmed the deaths of seven people and injuries to several demonstrators and nine police officers.

Moreover, the police took into custody some 300 people in connection with the rally and clashes.

Political activist and lawyer Eggi Sudjana as well as Lieus Sungkharisma, both Prabowo Subianto's supporters, were earlier detained by the Jakarta Police over allegedly plotting treason.

In Aceh, Don Muzakir, chairman of Subianto presidential campaign's volunteers, was recently arrested for his alleged role in inciting Subianto's supporters in Aceh to partake in the May 22 rally in Jakarta.




Translator: Ricky Prayoga, Fardah
Editor: Suharto
Copyright © ANTARA 2019