P

lans have been made to transfer former Jakarta governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama to Cipinang Penitentiary in East Jakarta, according to an official from the North Jakarta Prosecutor’s Office.

Preparations to move Ahok began after his lawyers and prosecutors retracted their appeal against Ahok’s two-year prison sentence for blasphemy.

“Normally, [Ahok would be transferred to] Cipinang. There has not been any other directive from prosecutors,” said head of the office’s general crimes unit, Dicky Oktavia, as quoted by kompas.com.

However, he added that Ahok could still be moved to a different prison if security concerns arose. The final decision would be made after the Jakarta High Court handed down a ruling on the withdrawal of the appeals, which would officially make the verdict final and binding.

“Security is indeed our concern,” Dicky said.