TEMPO.CO, Bandung - The panel of judges handling the hate speech case involving Buni Yani suggested the prosecutor summon former Jakarta Governor Ahok as a witness.
“Let’s bring back [Ahok],” chief of the panel of judges M. Saptono said during the trial in Bandung on Tuesday, August 8.
Previously, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok) was scheduled to testify at Buni Yani’s trial today. However, he failed to attend the trial, and the prosecutor decided to read Ahok’s testimony.
Buni Yani’s lawyer expressed an objection and said that the former Jakarta Governor must testify directly at the trial.
Chief prosecutor M. Taufik said that Ahok’s testimony should have been admitted. According to Taufik, Ahok swore an oath before providing the testimony.
“In our opinion, Ahok has sworn an oath. Therefore, his testimony should be as valid as other testimonies. There should be no problem with reading [Ahok’s testimony] at the trial,” he said.
Buni Yani’s lawyer Aldwin Rahadian said that the prosecutor team has the right to pick up the former Jakarta Governor by force in order to testify at the trial. According to Aldwin, Ahok’s testimony can determine the quality of charges made by the prosecutors. The trial is now in recess until next week.
IQBAL T. LAZUARDI S.