Speaking in a press conference, the head of the National Police’s Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim), Comr. Gen. Ari Dono Sukmanto, said there were stark differences of opinion among the 21 police investigators assigned to handle the case.

National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian explained that such contrasting opinions had occurred because experts invited to testify in the case were also deeply divided.

"The investigators were divided because the experts were. However, some of them believed there are criminal elements in this case. Therefore, they have decided to bring this case to an open trial,” Tito said.

The police invited 39 experts from various backgrounds, including criminal law, language, religion, psychology, anthropology and digital forensics, to testify in the case.

Ahok is accused of violating Article 156 of the Criminal Code regarding blasphemy, in reference to Article 28 (2) of the Electronic Information and Transactions Law.

Ahok, a Christian of Chinese descent in the predominantly Muslim country, sparked uproar among Muslim groups and communities after he made a comment about a verse in the Quran during a visit to Thousand Islands regency in late September. The police have so far received around a dozen reports regarding the case.

On Nov. 4, over 100,000 people, mostly from Muslim groups, swarmed onto Jakarta's streets to demand Ahok's prosecution for alleged blasphemy.

Previously, a number of Muslim figures accused law enforcers of protecting the governor. Ahok, who previously served as deputy Jakarta governor, replaced his former boss, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, after the latter won the presidential election in 2014.

Tito, however, has strongly denied the accusations and said the police would continue the legal process. (hwa)

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