JAKARTA—West Java Regional Police investigators have raised the status of the alleged hate speech case of Bahar bin Smith in his lecture in Margaasih, Bandung Regency, West Java which was later spread on YouTube social media. The Head of the Public Information Division of the Indonesian National Police Public Relations Division, Police Brigadier General Ahmad Ramadhan, explained that West Java Regional Police investigators had conducted a series of examinations of several witnesses so far. "We convey that we have examined 13 witnesses. First, consisting of 1 reporter and then three witnesses who together with the reporter saw the YouTube channel and then six witnesses who were at the crime scene," Ramadhan told reporters at the Indonesian National Police Headquarters, South Jakarta, Friday. (31/12). In addition, he continued, 21 expert witnesses consisted of four religious expert witnesses, four language experts, two criminal experts, four Electronic Information and Transaction experts, two legal experts and three forensic medicine experts. "Investigators have examined a total of 34 witnesses," said Ramadhan. In addition, investigators have also searched and confiscated several evidences belonging to Bahar Smith, using cellphones and several social media accounts. In line with that, Ramadhan added that investigators had sent a summons on December 30, 2021, to Bahar Smith for an examination. "The summons was received, and Bahar Smith will be examined on Monday, January 3, 2022. However, we are waiting for the examination results conducted at the West Java Regional Police," concluded Ramadhan. Previously, West Java Regional Police investigators had also issued a Notice of Investigation Commencement to Bahar Smith at his residence in Bogor on Tuesday, December 28, yesterday. In this case, Bahar Smith was charged with a criminal act of spreading information aimed at causing hatred and or hostility to individuals and/or groups based on Ethnicity, Religion, Race, and Intergroup as referred to in Article 28 paragraph (2) in conjunction with Article 45A paragraph (2) of the Republic of Indonesia Law Number 19 of 2016 concerning amendments to the Republic of Indonesia Law number 11 of 2008 concerning Electronic Information and Transaction and or Article 14 and 15 of the Republic of Indonesia Law number 1 of 1946 concerning criminal law regulations.