© AP Photo/Bagus Indahono
Brilio.net/en - North Jakarta District Court will still hold Jakarta Governor Basuki 'Ahok' Tjahaja Purnama's blasphemy trial on April 11, 2017, in accordance with the schedule set out at the last trial. North Jakarta's District Court Head of Public Relations, Hasoloan Sianturi said the trial could be postponed only if judge approves and is read out in court.
"[It is] based on our judicial system, and that's where the openness of a trial, any proceeding and measure considered necessary in the trial, is expressed in the hearing," said Sianturi as quoted from Kompas.com.
Sianturi said that according to the prevailing mechanism, the delay could only be performed after prosecutors or defendant's legal counsel request it to judge in a trial. The judges will then consult and decide when the hearing will be held with some discretion.
In the latest hearing or the 17th trial on Tuesday, the Chief Judge Dwiarso Budi Santiarto set the sentencing hearing on April 11, 2017.
"The trial [will be held] in accordance with what was announced, stipulated on last Tuesday," said Sianturi.
Jakarta Police in a letter received by reporters demanded the North Jakarta District Court to postpone the sentencing hearing for security purposes.
"Considering the unstable situation in Jakarta, in the purposes of security and public order, as well as the safeguarding implementation for the second round of Jakarta election where the entire police and military force are going to be deployed, it is suggested to the Chief Judge that the sentencing hearing for alleged blasphemy trial set for the accused Basuki Tjahaja Purnama or Ahok to be postpobed after the ballot of second round of Jakarta election," read the letter from the police.
(brl/red)
