Jakarta – Police have arrested Bambang Tri Mulyono, the author of a book titled "Jokowi Undercover". Bambang has been accused of spreading hatred against President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo.

National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Rickwanto said in Jakarta on Saturday that the suspect was being held at the Jakarta Police detention center after being arrested and interrogated on Friday.

"Everything written in the book 'Jokowi Undercover' and on social media is based on his personal opinion," Rikwanto said as reported by kompas.com on Saturday, adding that it was not based on valid data and was without any supporting references.

According to the book written by Bambang, Jokowi had falsified data before he registered himself as presidential candidate in 2014. Bambang also wrote that Giriroto, Boyolali regency, Central Java was the basis of the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI), which was disbanded in 1966. Giriroto is reportedly the village where Jokowi's mother, Sujiatmi Notomiatdjo, was born.

Bambang also claims that Jokowi and Jusuf Kalla were elected as president and vice president because of the success of the press in fooling the public. "The motive of the suspect is based on his wish to make the book more interesting and to get public attention," Rikwanto added.

Bambang has been accused of violating Article 16 of Law No. 40/2008 on the elimination of racial and ethnic discrimination and Article 28, paragraph 2 of Law No. 11/2008 on electronic information and transactions, by spreading hatred. (bbn)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/12/31/police-arrest-author-of-jokowi-undercover.html