TEMPO.CO, Bandung - The public prosecutors are considering bringing Basuki Tjahaja Purnama or Ahok as a witness in the hate speech trial against defendant Buni Yani.
"There is a possibility of bringing him; depending on what the court needs," public prosecutor Anwarudin said in Bandung, Tuesday, July 11.
So far, 17 people have taken the witness stand. There is no certainty yet whether the former Jakarta Governor (Ahok) will testify, but the prosecutors are planning to bring in IT experts as witnesses as well.
Buni Yani has pleaded innocence and objection over the charges against him, which was overruled by the judge. His trial will continue with the hearing of witnesses' testimonies scheduled to begin on July 18.
Buni Yani's case began when he uploaded a video of Ahok's controversial speech in the Thousand Islands on September 27, 2016, to his Facebook page. Buni tampered with the transcript of said video by removing the word "using" when Ahok mentioned the infamous verse from Quran's Al-Maidah.
For his actions, Buni Yani is charged with enticing hate and tampering with the video content of Ahok's speech. He is accused of violating Article 32 paragraph 1 and Article 28 paragraph 2 of the information technology and electronics law.
IQBAL T. LAZUARDI S
