© AP/Tatan Syuflana
Prosecutors filed no reply as Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama finished reading his defense statement in blasphemy trial today. The panel of judges postponed the verdict hearing until May 9, 2017.
"In accordance with the schedule, the verdict will be made on Tuesday, May 9. Therefore, it is instructed for the defendant to attend the session," said the Chief Judge Dwiarso Budi Santiarto before closing the trial at the Agricultural Ministry's auditorium in South Jakarta.
During the trial, Ahok insisted he never intended to taintIslam. This is line with the prosecutor's claim that does not impose Article 156a, instead of Article 156 related to a statement that expresses hostility, hatred, or humiliation to a or some groups of Indonesian people. However, Ahok also denied giving a statement of hatred.
In his plea titled "Keep Serving Amidst Slander", he mentioned that his speech was turnedinto a dispute only after Buni Yani's post in a social media on October 9, 2016, leading into a series of protest waves.
Ahok mentioned that he was also intervened in various ways so that people believe that he really tainted a religion although he insisted he never did.
"Because, before Buni Yani's post which excluded the word 'using', even though added with any comments, there was no reaction, comment, or commotion. So, still over the speech by BTP (Basuki Tjahaja Purnama) on September 27, 2016 in the Thousand Islands District, certain groups of people reacted and were angered. This was continued by demonstration just solely because Buni Yani posted the footage on his YouTube account regardless of any political motive behind the protest caused by Buni Yani. Thus, Buni Yani's post was used as an entrance to create another protest and pressure," said one of the Ahok's lawyer team, I Wayan Sudirta, in a plea prepared by advocate team.
Prosecutors called for one year imprisonment with a probation of two years if Ahokis proven to have violatedthe laws are regulated in Article 156 of the Criminal Code.
(brl/red)
