Ahok`s Trial to be Held in Central Jakarta District Court
9 December 2016 09:24 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The trial of suspect Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama, inactive Jakarta Governor, will be held in Central Jakarta District Court on Tuesday, December 13, 2016.
“The panel of judges have decided that [trial] venue will be at Jalan Gajah Mada number 17,” North Jakarta District Court spokesman Hasoloan Sianturi told Tempo on Thursday.
Ahok’s trial was previously scheduled to be held in North Jakarta District Court, which is currently under construction. Despite the court’s decision on the trial venue, Jakarta Metro Police are still looking for other alternatives.
Earlier, reports had said that Ahok’s trial would be held either in Cibubur, East Jakarta, or Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, for security reasons.
The National Police Public Information Bureau chief Martinus Sitompul said that police continue to prepare themselves ahead of Ahok’s trial. “We have gathered information on possible situation during trial,” Martin said.
Ahok was named as suspect by investigators from the Police Criminal Investigation Unit (Bareskrim) on November 16. He has allegedly committed blasphemy against Islam in his speech on the Seribu Islands on September 27. In a recorded speech, which was uploaded to Youtube, Ahok made reference to surah al-Maida, verse 51 of the Holy Koran.
INGE KLARA | REZKI ALVIONITASARI
