'Prophet' fails to predict arrest

PALU, Central Sulawesi: A resident of the Alabibi subdistrict, Banggai Islands regency, Central Sulawesi province, has been arrested after he announced that he was a Muslim prophet.

Sr. Comr. Tatang Somantri, director of the crime division of the Central Sulawesi police, said that Zikrullah, the supposed prophet, was arrested a few days ago at the request of local figures.

According to Tatang, Zikrullah was charged with violating Article 156 of the Criminal Code for sparking hostility among religious believers that carries a maximum sentence of five years jail. Zikrullah earlier built a "Ka'bah" (a small stone building in the court of the Al Haram Mosque in Mecca) in his house compound. He told his believers that they need not go to Mecca any more to perform the Muslim pilgrimage, and instead they could perform the pilgrimage around his own Ka'bah. -- JP