Callistasia Anggun Wijaya, Jakarta – Prosecutors are set to present five witnesses to testify against non-active Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama in the fifth hearing of his blasphemy trial, which will take place at the Agriculture Ministry's auditorium, South Jakarta, on Tuesday.
Ahok's lawyer Fifi Lety Indra said the witnesses were Darussalam Kota Wisata Mosque organizer H. Ibnu Baskoro, secretary-general of Muhammadiyah's youth wing Pedri Kasman, Bogor Islam Forum secretary H. Willyudin Abdul Rasyid, ustadzah (female Islamic teacher) Irena Handono and lawyer Muh Burhanuddin.
"The witnesses are individuals who have denounced Ahok to the police for blasphemy," Fifi told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.
On Jan. 3, in the previous hearing, prosecutors presented four witnesses, namely Islam Defenders Front (FPI) member Novel Bamukmin, Sharia Advocate chairman Gus Joy Setiawan, FPI Jakarta head Muchsin and Anti-blasphemy Forum head Syamsu Hilal to testify against Ahok.
The four, likewise, all had reported Ahok to the police after watching footage of the governor commenting on a Quranic verse during a work visit to Thousand Islands regency in late September last year.
Ahok said those witnesses had urged the judges to detain him for blasphemy during the hearing. (dan)