Polri on Sheikh Al Misry's Arrest: Still Sought by Egyptian Police
Egyptian authorities have reportedly denied news of the arrest of Sheikh Ahmad Al Misry, the suspect in a sexual harassment case.
The Secretary of Polri’s NCB Hubinter, Brigadier General Untung Widyatmoko, emphasised that Egyptian authorities are still searching for the location of Sheikh Ahmad Al Misry’s hideout.
“The response was only given via telephone that they (Egyptian authorities) are currently seeking the exact position of the individual in which province,” he stated when contacted via text message on Wednesday (13/5).
Untung also refuted circulating rumours that Sheikh Ahmad Al Misry is en route to Indonesia.
“That information is untrue. The individual SAM is still in Egypt,” he clarified.
Furthermore, he noted that Egyptian authorities have yet to respond regarding the examination request submitted by Polri’s Bareskrim.
This is because, he said, Sheikh Ahmad Al Misry has been proven to hold dual citizenship of Indonesia and Egypt.
“As of today, the Egyptian authorities have not provided an official response to our request to accommodate the examination of the individual as per the investigators’ request,” he concluded.
Previously, the complainant in the alleged sexual harassment case against students, Muhammad Mahdi Alatas, claimed that the suspect Sheikh Ahmad Al Misry had been arrested by authorities in Egypt.
The suspect, he said, has been detained by the Al-Amn al-Watani unit (National Security Forces) of the Egyptian National Police (ENP).
“There, he has already been detained. Ahmad Misri was detained starting from 23 (April). So, the first time I spoke up was on 22 April, and on the 23rd he was detained,” said Mahdi.
Sheikh Ahmad Al Misry was officially named a suspect in the alleged sexual harassment case against students by Polri’s Bareskrim.
Polri’s Divisi Humas Public Information Head, Brigadier General Trunoyudo Wisnu Andiko, stated that the suspect designation was made 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 as a judge for Quran memorisation competitions.
This indecent act case has affected more than one victim. The legal representative stated that all his clients have suffered very deep psychological trauma as a result of the incident.