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Police asks court to postpone sentencing demand against Ahok
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Police officers secure the first blasphemy hearing of Jakarta Governor Basuki Thahaja Purnama in the North Jakarta District Court on Dec. 13, 2016. (JP/Callistasia Anggun Wijaya)
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akarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Iriawan has asked the North Jakarta District Court to postpone sentencing demands against incumbent Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama until after the election runoff.
In an official letter obtained by The Jakarta Post on Thursday, Iriawan argued that based on intelligence reports and observations, proceeding with the trial might further stoke tension in the capital ahead of voting day, which is slated for April 19.
Based on an initial schedule, prosecutors are expected to make their sentence demand against Ahok next Tuesday, while the defendant is scheduled to read out his defense statement on April 17, just two days before voting in the runoff to Jakarta’s gubernatorial election.
Iriawan added that police and military personnel would have started to shift their focus on guarding the running of the election.
“Based on those considerations, we suggest that the sentencing demand against Ahok in his blasphemy case be postponed until after the election runoff,” he said in the statement.
He added that the police would postpone their interrogation of Ahok's gubernatorial rivals, Anies Baswedan and Sandiaga Uno, who had also been reported for several alleged violations.
Ahok’s legal team reported Anies for alleged defamation on Wednesday after the candidate publicly claimed Ahok would evict the residents of 300 areas across the city if he was re-elected as Jakarta governor.
