Andita Rahma, Taufiq Siddiq, Jakarta – National Police confirmed the status of a cleric Muhammad Bahar alias Bahar bin Smith as the suspect for allegedly defaming President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo.

They named him as a suspect after the National Police's criminal investigation department (Bareskim) questioned the latter on Thursday, December 6.

"Based on the investigation result, HBS (Habib Bahar bin Smith) is named as a suspect," said National Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Syahar Diantono via a short message, Friday, December 7.

Syahar explained that his institution named Bahar as the suspect after a long investigation yesterday. However, he added, the police did not arrest Bahar.

Earlier, Bahar's lawyer Azis Yanuar said Thursday, December 6, in the Bareskrim building that his client had been named as a suspect after underwent 29 questions for 11-hour investigation.

Bahar bin Smith was charged with Article 4b (2) in conjunction with Article 16 of Republic of Indonesia Law No. 40/2008 concerning Elimination of Racial and Ethnic Discrimination, Article 28 (2) in conjunction with Article 45 of Law No. 19/2018 on the amendment of Law No. 11/2008 concerning ITE, and Article 207 of the Criminal Code with criminal penalties of more than five years imprisonment.

Source: http://en.tempo.co/read/news/2018/12/07/055924075/Police-Name-Bahar-bin-Smith-as-Suspect