Ahok Blasphemy Trial to Be Staged Twice a Week as Verdict Expected in May

Jakarta. The blasphemy trial against Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama is going to be staged twice a week as judges are expected to issue the verdict in late May, court chairman said on Tuesday (21/03).
According to the Supreme Court's circular, this kind of trials should not last longer than five months.
The blasphemy trial began in December and is going to see 15 more defense witnesses in the upcoming hearings.
During the 15th session on Tuesday, North Jakarta District Court chairman Dwiarso Budi Santiarto offered Ahok to chose whether the hearings should be long, until midnight, or to held twice a week. Ahok's lawyers agreed on the latter.
"Our concerns over timeframes shouldn't diminish the defendant's right to defense," Dwiarso said.
Tuesday's hearing featured Ahmad Ishomuddin of the Nahdlatul Ulama, University of Indonesia linguist Rahayu Surtiati and criminal law expert from Parahyangan University in Bandung, West Java, Djisman Samosir.
The governor has been accused of blasphemy after a comment on a Koranic verse in October last year. He can face up to five years in prison, if convicted.
Ahok has repeatedly denied the charges.
Tags: Keywords:The Latest
Guardians of the Forest: How the Dayak Wehea Protect Their Ancestral Land
The Dayak Wehea serve as the last guardians of the Wehea Protected Forest, preserving their ancestral land amid modern challenges.Prabowo Eyes $44 Billion Budget Cuts by 2025 to Fund Danantara, Free Meals Program
Prabowo announces Rp 750T budget savings plan to fund Danantara and free meal (MBG) program by 2025.Green Day vs. Linkin Park: Back-to-Back Jakarta Shows, Which Side Are You On?
Green Day and Linkin Park take over Jakarta with back-to-back shows! Punk vs. nu-metal—who will you choose?Prabowo Responds to Criticism Over 'Bloated' Cabinet at Gerindra's 17th Anniversary
President Prabowo Subianto addressed criticism of his 109-member "Red and White Cabinet," which has been labeled as "bloated".Energia Prima Nusantara Launches New Strategy to Spur Growth
Energia Prima Nusantara recently launched its strategy document that laid out its plans to spur business growth.Most Popular
