Najwa Shihab Comments on Setya Novanto`s Silence in Court

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The e-KTP trial session of defendant Setya Novanto at the Corruption Court in Central Jakarta on Wednesday, December 13, was adjourned as he did not answer the judge`s questions.

Setya Novanto’s silence at the trial received great public scrutiny as the legal proceedings against the politician seem to always be filled with drama.

Former TV host Najwa Shihab said that the public reaction on the issue is normal. She said that everyone could see what Setya Novanto was doing.

Read: KPK Tells Setya Novanto to Get Over Rejected Pretrial Motion

“I think since it was an open trial which can be viewed by the public, so any opinion and remarks are inevitable,” Najwa Shihab said yesterday, Dec. 14 in South Jakarta. “Some perceive it as an attempt to hamper the trial, some even said it undermines the defendant himself,” she added.

Before being adjourned, some argue that the defendant had lied and faked his illness. “It is interesting when Setya Novanto said he had diarrhea and went to the bathroom 20 times but officials said that he only did it twice,” Najwa noted.

Read: At Corruption Court, Setya Novanto Tells Judge He Has Diarrhea

The public made their own conclusion on what they heard and saw, adding that she will not blame the public. “I won’t blame the public for having a rather negative view over yesterday’s trial session. Because like it or not that was what they saw,” Najwa Shihab concluded. 

TABLOID BINTANG