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Accusations against Buni Yani unproven as Ahok named suspect: Lawyer
Aldwin Rahadian, the lawyer of Buni Yani, who uploaded video footage containing alleged blasphemous remarks made by Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama, said on Friday that the accusations against his client, who was said to have edited the footage, were unproven as the National Police had named the governor a blasphemy suspect.
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Accused -- Buni Yani (center), the uploader of video footage containing an alleged blasphemous remark by Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama, gives a statement to the press after attending a questioning session on Ahok’s blasphemy case at the National Police’s Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim) in Jakarta on Nov.10. (Antara/Reno Esnir)
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ldwin Rahadian, the lawyer of Buni Yani, who uploaded video footage containing an alleged blasphemous remark made by Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama, said on Friday that the accusations against his client, who was said to have edited the footage, were unproven as the National Police had named the governor a blasphemy suspect.
“As a lawyer, I’m of the opinion that when the police named Ahok a suspect, all accusations against Buni became no longer relevant. Ahok has been named a suspect, which means there was criminal intent in him making the speech,” Aldwin said Friday. He accompanied Buni for questioning on the latter’s defamation suit filed by Muanas Alaidin and Guntur Romli.
The lawyer reiterated that Buni had not edited nor transcribed Ahok’s speech, in which he cited Surah Al Maidah 51, in September. He said Buni only wrote a caption on Ahok’s speech to start discourse with netizens.
On Oct.8, Muanas, the leader of the Community of Young Advocates for Ahok-Djarot (Kotak Adja), reported Buni to the police over alleged provocation against Ahok by editing the footage of his speech from one hour and 48 minutes to 31 seconds.
Guntur Romli, another Ahok supporter, accused Buni of attacking Ahok through matters pertaining to ethnicity, religion, race and societal group (SARA).
Ahok has also accused Buni of falsely transcribing his speech, resulting in widespread misinterpretation that led to a large-scale rally organized by Islamic organizations on Nov. 4.
On Wednesday, National Police spokesman Boy Rafli Amar announced that investigators had named Ahok a suspect after they examined a full version of his speech. (ebf)
