TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Public prosecutors have appealed the sentence given to Basuki Tjahaja Purnama alias Ahok in the blasphemy case. “It was filed on Monday,” Jakarta High Court spokesman Nirwan Mawawi said yesterday.
Nirwan said that the appeal was stipulated in a deed of appeal signed by the public prosecutors and North Jakarta District Court clerk. He said that the appeal has been registered with the District Court.
According to Nirwan, the prosecutors have filed an appeal because, among other reasons, they disagree with the judges’ verdict.
The panel of judges of North Jakarta District Court had found Ahok guilty of blasphemy. The judges considered that Ahok had violated Article 156a of the Criminal Code and sentenced him to two years in jail. The sentence was higher than the prosecutors had sought i.e. one year in prison and two-year probation period.
North Jakarta District Court spokesman Hasoloan Sianturi confirmed that public prosecutors have filed an appeal.
Ahok’s lawyer Darwin Aritonang said that the legal team had yet to be informed about the appeal.
IMAM HAMDI | ERWAN HERMAWAN
