TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Trimoelja D. Soerjadi, head of the lawyer team defending non-active Jakarta governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama, claimed that the religious blasphemy case allegation against Ahok is related to political interests.
"It think [the case] is related to political interests. This case [is fabricated] so that Ahok can't conduct [political] campaigns," Trimoelja said on Monday, January 9, 2017.
The fourth trial of the religious blasphemy case has been scheduled on Tuesday, January 10, 2017, at 9:00 AM Western Indonesia Time. The trial will take place at the Agriculture Ministry's Auditorium in South Jakarta. As many as five witnesses against Ahok will testify during the trial.
"Sometimes there are surprises during a trial. We will try to destroy the witnesses' credibility," Trimoelja promised.
Trimoelja revealed that he doubted the credibility of the witnesses, since they were not present at the scene when Ahok delivered his speech in Pulau Tidung, Thousand Islands Regency back on September 26, 2016.
"A witness is a person who saw and heard about the event. None of Thousand Islands residents filed a report [against Ahok]," Trimoelja explained.
According to Trimoelja, his team will research the witnesses' backgrounds.
"We will dig their affiliations. Because Novel [Bamukmin] serves as the FPI secretary, Muksin serves as FPI's great imam, and Gus Joy is Democratic Party member. Some of their testimonials are highly doubtful," Trimoelja added.
CHITRA PARAMAESTI