Police clashed with supporters of Rizieq Shihab outside of the Jakarta High Court in Cempaka Putih, Central Jakarta today, as the firebrand cleric saw his four-year sentence appeal turned down.
Central Jakarta Police Deputy Chief Setyo Koes Heriyanto said Rizieq's supporters pelted stones at officers as tensions grew following the unfavorable outcome for Rizieq.
"Many officers were wounded by the stones," he said, without disclosing the number of the wounded.
Setyo added that at least 15 Rizieq supporters were apprehended on suspicion of instigating the chaos.
"They closed the road, pelted stones. We urged them to back off and we told them the trial was over. We tried persuasive approaches," he said.
Police reportedly fired tear gas at the crowd of Rizieq supporters. There were reports of several wounded among the latter's ranks as well.
In June, Rizieq was sentenced to four years in prison after he was found guilty of creating public unrest by publicly announcing the result of a fake swab test. The founder of the disbanded Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), who returned to Indonesia late last year after three years of exile in Saudi Arabia to escape charges related to pornography, filed an appeal against the sentence.
The Jakarta High Court today upheld the four-year sentence.