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Buni Yani, a suspect for inciting religious and ethnic hatred will facehis first trial session today in Bandung District Court.
"God willing, he'll come with me," told Buni Yani's lawyer, Aldwin Rahadian to Kompas.com, Tuesday.
Aldwin was optimistic that Buni Yani would be declared innocentin the case. He believed his client was only criticizing Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama's statement when Ahok was delivering a speech in Thousand Islands district of Jakarta, September last year.
"Ahok had been convicted, which means Buni Yani is free from all charges, but we, as law-abiding citizens,have to follow the judicial process," said Aldwin.
Buni Yani, a lecturer at a private university, was named suspect on November 2016. He was reported by Ahok's supporters after uploading video of Ahok giving a speech at the Thousand Islands district the speech that brought Ahok to jail last month.
In the post, Buni Yani included information that was considered controversial and sparking public anger. Buni Yani had set to apply for a pretrial hearing, but the request was rejected by the South Jakarta District Court.
Buni Yani has allegedly violated Article 28 of the Eletronic Information and Transactions Law (UU ITE) and faces a maximum sentence of six years and Rp 1 billion fine.
Thetrial was initially scheduled at the Depok District court, but then moved to Bandung.
(brl/red)
