JAKARTA - The man who allegedly doctored and posted an image of President Joko Widodo's face on pornographic photos was released on bail on Monday, but was told by his neighbours to clean the local mosque for a week as punishment, the Jakarta Globe reported.

Residents of Jalan H. Jum of the Kampung Rambutan urban ward in East Jakarta demanded that Muhammad Arsyad Assegaf clean the Darul Salam mosque as a "social sanction", the newspaper said.

"Residents here have agreed to impose a social sanction, this is social work," said Fahrur Rohman, a relative of Arsyad. "Arysad is also expected to assiduously perform his religious duties."

Arsyad, a satay seller, was arrested at his parents' home in East Jakarta on Oct 24, based on a report filed by Mr Joko's Indonesian Democratic Party-Struggle (PDI-P) during Mr Joko's presidential election campaign in July, the Jakarta Post reported. A Facebook account registered under the name of Arsyad Assegaf had posted a series of doctored pornographic images with the faces of Mr Joko and PDI-P chairman Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Arsyad was charged with defamation and spreading pornographic material, an offence which could lead to 12 years in prison.

Arsyad's parents met Mr Joko at the presidential office last weekend to ask for his forgiveness. Mr Joko said he forgave Arsyad, but police said on Monday the criminal case against the latter would continue nonetheless, reported the Globe.

Commissioner General Suhardi Alius, head of the National Police's crime division, was quoted as saying: "The case is a general crime so it will be continued despite the suspect being granted bail.

"The president with his big heart has forgiven him, but that forgiveness will not stop this case."

Mr Irfan Fahmi, Arsyad's lawyer, said they thanked Mr Joko for his forgiveness, the Globe reported.

Mr Irfan claimed that Arysad did not know that what he did was illegal.

"I'm very sorry for posting the indecent photos," the suspect himself was quoted by the Globe as saying on Monday, adding that he posted the photos to a group for people opposing the president. But he denied the police accusation that he edited the pictures.

"I took that picture from another person's Facebook account and posted it to that group," Arsyad said.