“I can accept and justify what has been expected and suggested by the police, which aims to reschedule the hearing as the runoff draws closer,” Prasetyo said on Friday as quoted by kompas.com.

According to the initial schedule, prosecutors are expected to deliver a sentence to Ahok on April 11. The defendant is scheduled to read out his defense statement on April 17, two days before the runoff.

The police through their letter to the court suggested the postponement given security concerns in the capital ahead of the runoff.

The police and military personnel will have to begin focusing their attention on security during the election, Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. M. Iriawan said.

In addition to requesting that the court postpone Ahok’s hearing, Iriawan also informed the court that the police would postpone their interrogation of Ahok's gubernatorial rivals, Anies Baswedan and Sandiaga Uno, who had also been reported to the police for several alleged violations.

Prasetyo said the suggestion by the police to postpone the trial was reasonable. “All of the suggestions can be understood because we don't want something bad to happen,” he said. (cal/ebf)

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