Bayu Marhaenjati, Jakarta – The Jakarta Police are continuing to build a case against 22 members of the hard-line Islamic Defenders Front, or FPI, who were involved in a violent demonstration outside the City Council building earlier this month that resulted in more than a dozen police officers getting injured.

Police have charged the coordinators of the rally, Novel Bamu'min and Shahab Anggawi, with inciting violence. Some 20 other members of the FPI have been charged with offenses including assault and resisting arrest.

Police last week submitted results of their investigation to the prosecutors' office. "From what we heard, the prosecutors' office has assigned a team to handle the case," Sr. Comr. Heru Pranoto, the director of general crimes at the Jakarta Police, said on Friday.

Heru said that pending feedback from prosecutors, police would continue expanding the investigation, including tracking down the people who funded the Oct. 3 demonstration in opposition to the impending inauguration of Deputy Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama as governor.

The protest turned ugly when hundreds of FPI members attacked police personnel with rocks, bladed weapons and cow patties, injuring 16 officers.

The FPI, a rent-a-mob fronting as a religious organization, claimed they were the victims, saying their members were subjected to heavy-handed police tactics.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/police-said-expand-fpi-investigation/