Jakarta – The National Police's Criminal Investigation Department has launched an investigation into defamation allegations lodged against Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama.

Police investigators questioned witnesses from Thousand Islands regency, where the governor made a comment on Surah al-Maidah, verse 51 of the Quran, during a visit on Sept. 28.

In his speech, Ahok said, "In your inner hearts, ladies and gentlemen, you may not want to vote for me, because [you have been] deceived into [applying] Surah al-Maidah, verse 51, etc. That is your right. So you do not need to feel uneasy if you cannot vote for me, because you are afraid of being condemned to hell, as you are being fooled. It is alright."

National Police general crimes unit director Brig. Gen. Agus Andrianto said that investigators had since Monday questioned a number of people who had reported the case to the police.

"The investigators were in Thousand Islands regency to question witnesses, because that is the location," Agus said in Jakarta on Wednesday, as reported by tribunnews.com, adding that his office also had a recording of Ahok's speech on the island to be analyzed.

He said the police would seek an explanation from linguists in connection with Ahok's statement. "I have written a letter to the National Police's Forensics Laboratory. A linguist will be consulted to establish if there is an insult connotation [in the speech]," he added. (bbn)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/10/12/police-start-probing-ahok-in-defamation-case.html