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Respect Ahok's verdict, Jokowi says
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President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo (The Jakarta Post/Nethy Dharma Somba)
P
resident Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has called on the public to respect the North Jakarta District Court's ruling that handed down a two-year imprisonment sentence to Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama for blasphemy.
"All parties shall respect the legal process, including the verdict, which was just read out by the panel of judges, as well as Ahok's move to file an appeal. Most importantly, we all believe in legal mechanisms to settle problems," Jokowi said on the sidelines of his visit to Jayapura, Papua, on Tuesday.
(Read also: Ahok verdict irregular: Setara)
"The government cannot interfere with the legal process," the President added.
Jokowi said he had received reports from Home Minister Tjahjo Kumolo on the matter while adding that he would discuss it in detail after he returned to Jakarta.
Ahok was initially charged under Article 156a of the Criminal Code (KUHP) on blasphemy and Article 156 of the KUHP on defaming clergymen. Prosecutors later dropped the blasphemy charge and demanded that Ahok be sentenced to two years’ probation and one year in prison if he reoffended.
However, the judges ignored the prosecutors and said Ahok was guilty of blasphemy, hence sentencing him to two years in prison. (bbs)
