“We have learned about it from the media but we have yet to receive any official information [from the court]. We can’t make a statement just yet as we have to gather information first and discuss our next steps with the team,” she told The Jakarta Post on Monday.

The Supreme Court rejected on Monday Ahok’s case review petition, which officially challenged his blasphemy conviction. Ahok filed the petition in February, nine months after the North Jakarta District Court found him guilty of blasphemy and sentenced him to two years in prison for making a comment on a Quranic verse, which Ahok believed had been used by politicians to discredit him.

“The judges cannot accept the arguments presented,” court spokesperson Suhadi said, confirming that the petition had been rejected.  

Previously, Ahok's lawyer and sister, Fify Lety Indra, said she believed the North Jakarta District Court had made a mistake in declaring Ahok guilty of blasphemy.

She said the guilty verdict against Buni Yani, a communications lecturer found guilty of tampering with video footage of a speech given by Ahok that was used as evidence to lodge the blasphemy allegations against the former Jakarta governor, was the basis for the case review request. (fac)

Popular

Stocks sink, oil surges on reports of Middle East attacks

Israel launches strike against Iran: US media

North Sulawesi volcano eruption forces evacuations, airport closure