Ba'asyir ready to call witnesses

Despite repeated absences from the courtroom, terrorism defendant Abu Bakar Ba’asyir said he would call witnesses to testify in his defense.

“It is a technical matter. I will try to defend myself. As for my fate, God will decide,” Ba’asyir said on Thursday as quoted by Tempointeraktif.com.

The firebrand cleric has repeatedly left proceedings at South Jakarta District Court to object to witnesses who testified through videoconferencing.

Prosecutors and judges agreed that videoconferencing was needed to prevent witness intimidation.

Ba’asyir rejected their assessment. “That many police are not able to protect a witness? Impossible. The police should be able to,” he said.