Police Suspect Sheikh Ahmad Al Misry of Hiding Egyptian Citizenship Status

The Indonesian Police’s International Relations Division (Hubinter) suspects that Sheikh Ahmad Al Misry, the suspect in a sexual harassment case, holds dual citizenship. “It appears so (he has dual citizenship),” said Secretary of the NCB Hubinter Polri, Brigadier General Untung Widyatmoko, when confirmed via text message on Tuesday (12/5). Untung suspects that Ahmad deliberately hid his Egyptian citizenship status. Therefore, his side is intensively coordinating with Egyptian authorities. “His citizenship should be Indonesian, but he apparently hid his Egyptian citizenship,” he said. Previously, the International Relations Division (Hubinter) of Polri submitted a red notice status for the sexual harassment suspect Sheikh Ahmad Al Misry to Interpol. Head of Jatranin Secretariat NCB Interpol, Commissioner Ricky Purnama, stated that the fugitive submission was made after Sheikh Ahmad Al Misry was suspected of not being in Indonesia. “The red notice submission is currently in process through the Interpol portal,” he said when confirmed via text message on Friday (8/5). Ricky emphasised that the suspect Sheikh Ahmad Al Misry currently holds the status of an Indonesian Citizen (WNI). He said that this citizenship was obtained by the perpetrator after undergoing a naturalisation process. “If his WNI status has been validated (approved), through the naturalisation route with a proposal as a mixed marriage partner with an Indonesian woman,” he explained. Sheikh Ahmad Al Misry was officially designated as a suspect in the alleged sexual harassment case against students by Bareskrim Polri. Head of Public Information of the Polri Public Relations Division, Brigadier General Trunoyudo Wisnu Andiko, stated that the suspect designation was carried out by investigators from the Directorate of PPA and PPO Criminal Acts after conducting a case review on Wednesday (22/4). Based on statements from the victims’ legal representative, Benny Jehadu, Sheikh Ahmad Al Misry often appeared on television programmes as a judge for Quran memorisation. This indecent act case has more than one victim. The legal representative stated that all his clients suffered very deep psychological trauma as a result of the incident.