FPI chairman withdraws suit against police

JAKARTA: The chairman of the radical Islam Defenders Front (FPI), Al Habib Rizieq Shihab, withdrew on Tuesday his lawsuit against the city police over his detention.

Rizieq's lawyer Mahendradatta told the South Jakarta District Court that his client had decided to withdraw the suit with good intentions ahead of the Ramadhan fasting month.

"He said that if this legal process continues, it could have a bad impact during this Ramadhan. Therefore, he ordered the withdrawal of the suit," he told reporters outside the courtroom after the hearing.

The lawyer said his client would request the police release him from detention.

The hearing lasted just 15 minutes after the police lawyer, Adj.Comr. Aminullah accepted the withdrawal providing it was made without any conditions.

Rizieq has been detained since Oct. 16 on charges of instigating violence and vandalism. Police have said they will keep Rizieq in detention because they have not completed the investigation.

Since 2000, the group has often raided entertainment spots. The latest case took place on Oct. 4 when more than 400 FPI members attacked a discotheque and two billiard centers.

Rizieq had earlier insisted that the police had no legal grounds to detain him because he did not know anything about the raids.

The police finally took action against the radical group following mounting pressure from the public, especially after the Bali bomb attacks. --JP