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Judges continue with Ahok hearing even though witnesses fail to show up
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Staying firm -- Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama attends his blasphemy trial at the North Jakarta District Court on Jan. 24. (aktual.com/POOL/Tino Okatviano/ via JP)
T
he North Jakarta District Court judges presiding over the blasphemy trial of Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama decided to continue the defendant’s seventh hearing on Tuesday even though three witnesses scheduled to give their testimonies did not yet show up.
The three witnesses, namely Ibnu Baskoro, Iman Sudirman and Muhammad Asroi Saputra, were the men who initially reported the governor to the police for alleged blasphemy. It is the second time the three witnesses have skipped a hearing after failing to testify on Jan. 17.
For Tuesday’s hearing, five witnesses, including Yuli Hardi and Nurkholis Majid, who both witnessed Ahok talking to residents of Thousand Islands regency and referencing Surah Al Maidah 51 on Sept. 27, 2016, were also scheduled to give their testimonies. However, only Yuli and Nurkholis appeared at the hearing when the judges started the trial on 9 a.m.
“We want to inform you that we have summoned five witnesses. Four witnesses have confirmed their attendance. Two eyewitnesses are present now,” prosecutor Ali Mukartono told the judges.
Presiding judge Dwiarso Budi Santiarto said the panel would refer to prevailing laws that stipulate that a trial should be simple, quick and efficient. For that reason, Dwiarso said, he had decided to continue with the hearing despite the absence of three witnesses. (ebf)
