Ahok Objects to Expert Witness in Blasphemy Trial

Bayu Marhaenjati & Eko Prasetyo
February 7, 2017 | 8:44 pm
SHARE
Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama enters the court room during his blasphemy trial on Tuesday (07/02). (Antara Photo/Isra Triansyah)
Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama enters the court room during his blasphemy trial on Tuesday (07/02). (Antara Photo/Isra Triansyah)

Jakarta. Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama, a suspect in a blasphemy trial, objected to an expert witness presented by the prosecutors on Tuesday (07/02), Hamdan Rasyid, since he was a member of the Indonesian Ulema Council, or MUI, which in October last year had issued an official statement declaring that Ahok had insulted Islam.

Hamdan Rasyid is a member of MUI's fatwa commission. He appeared in the trial that was held in a converted auditorium at the Ministry of Agriculture headquarters in Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta.

Ahok’s lawyer Humphrey Djemat said the defense team had questioned Hamdan's objectivity and independence as a witness in the trial.

"He is a MUI official, a member of its fatwa commission. He was sticking to the MUI position as expected, but he was an expert [witness], he should have been independent," Humphrey said.

Advertisement

"He said what the MUI chairman [Ma’ruf Amin] had already said. For us, this is unacceptable," the lawyer added.

Speaking after the trial, Governor Ahok said next week’s trial will be held on Monday, Feb. 13, in the same location.

"We'll meet again on Monday. I imagine all the security officers here will be away at the polling stations by then," Ahok joked.

Defense team refused to acknowledge Hamdan

Humphrey said according to police records Hamdan and MUI Chairman Ma’ruf had been interviewed at the same time barely two hours before Ahok was declared a suspect in the blasphemy case.

The lawyer claimed that Hamdan and Ma'ruf had given the police the same stock answers in the interview.

"They even said the same mistakes. Hamdan was simply parroting Ma’ruf, his chairman. Hamdan is not an independent witness," Humphrey said.

"We objected to his presence in the court and provided notes to the judges on what he said," he added.

Ahok’s lawyers did not ask any question to the expert witness from MUI.

"Asking him questions would've been tantamount to acknowledging that he was an expert witness. We didn't ask him any. We rejected his statement and filed several points of consideration for the judges," Humphrey said.

Tags: Keywords:
SHARE

The Latest


Lifestyle 1 hours ago

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.
News 3 hours ago

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.
Lifestyle 4 hours ago

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?
News 5 hours ago

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".
Special Updates 5 hours ago

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.
COPYRIGHT © 2025 JAKARTA GLOBE. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED