he trial of Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama’s blasphemy case will be held at the North Jakarta District Court, which is now temporarily located at the former Central Jakarta District Court building on Jl. Gajah Mada, Central Jakarta, next Tuesday, a court official has confirmed.
“The first hearing of the case will be held there,” North Jakarta District Court spokesperson Hasoloan Sianturi told The Jakarta Post on Friday.
After confusion regarding the venue of Ahok’s trial, Jakarta Police spokesperson Sr.Comr. Raden Prabowo Argo Yuwono finally confirmed that the first hearing of the trial would be held at the North Jakarta District Court. “But as to where the next hearings will be held, we still don’t know,” he said on Friday, as quoted by kompas.com.
Ahok’s alleged blasphemy has triggered widespread outrage across the country. On Dec.2, thousands of people staged a massive rally to demand the non-active governor’s immediate arrest.
National Police chief Gen.Tito Karnavian said on Tuesday that the police were striving to ensure the trial would be held at a location away from business centers to avoid potential disruptions if the trial drew a lot of visitors.
Argo said Ahok’s trial was set to be open for the public. The first hearing will be held in the Koesoemah Atmadja Room on the second floor of the court building at 9 a.m. on Tuesday.
The trial will be led by five judges: Dwiarso Budi Santiarto as presiding judge and Jupriadi, Abdul Rosyad, Joseph V Rahantoknam, and I Wayan Wijarna as the other panel members. (ebf)
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