An update on this story. “Indonesia: Muslim cleric re-arrested over child bride scandal,” from Adnkronos International and the Jakarta Post, July 16:
Semarang, 16 July (AKI/The Jakarta Post) – Indonesian police have again arrested Muslim cleric, Pujiono Cahyono Widianto, in a continuing controversy over his marriage to a 12-year-old girl. Pujiono was rearrested for failing to cooperate following his marriage to Lutfiana Ulfa.
It’s lawful under Sharia, per Muhammad’s own example. Hence Widianto’s complete disregard for Indonesian law.
The police detained 44 year-old Syech Puji – who is also the head of an Islamic boarding school – along with his two employees, Dwi and Slamet, who were suspected to have damaged the police officers’ cars during the arrest.
Police were also trying to determine Ulfa’s whereabouts. Instead they brought in Ulfa’s father, Suroso, for further questioning.
The police chief of the city of Semarang, Comr. Edward Syah Pernong, demanded Syech Puji’s first wife and his lawyer Sinto Ariwibawa Umi Hani present Ulfa during the witness examination at the office.
In March, the police questioned the wealthy Muslim cleric who had married Ulfa seven months earlier.
Shocker:
The police then arrested him but later granted him probation at his lawyers request. Syech Puji, however, did not report to the police once a week as required by the officers.