Let Police Tackle Ahok Case in Accordance with Regulations: President

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has asked every party to respect the National Police (Polri) in dealing with the alleged blasphemy case of Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, Jakarta governor.

"Let Polri work in accordance with the existing regulations," President Jokowi said after launching a Fruit Eating Campaign organized to highlight the Indonesia Fruit 2016 festival, at Senayan area here Thursday.

Everyone must respect the ongoing legal process being handled by police, he remarked.

"Dont put any pressure, dont try to intervene. Let Polri work as per the existing regulations. We must respect what Polri has done," Jokowi added.

The Indonesian police have named Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok) as a suspect for alleged blasphemy.

"The investigation has been upgraded with Ahok as a suspect," Indonesia Police spokesman Senior Commissioner Rikwanto said in a written statement received here Wednesday.

The police have also decided to ban Ahok from going abroad in connection with his status as a suspect, he said.

The police would immediately submit the dossiers of the case to the prosecutors office.

Ade Komarudin, Speaker of the House of Representatives, hailed police investigators for having worked professionally to name Ahok as the suspect.

"My praise goes to the Indonesian Police, especially the investigators, who have worked professionally," he said.

The legal process must be independent and not based on pressure from anyone, be it the executive, legislative or the public.

The House Commission III had been invited to attend the case deliberations, but it declined to attend to avoid the impression of intervention.

"The law must work independently and must not be controlled by politics or anyone," he said.

The politician from Golkar Party said that the police, with their professionalism, had conducted the process well to create peace among the public.(WDY)