Judges refuse to hear testimony of Ahok's brother

JAKARTA. Judges presiding over the blasphemy trial of Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama refused to hear testimony on Tuesday from his Muslim godbrother, Analta Amir, as the latter had attended a previous hearing.

Presiding judge Dwiarso Budi Santiarto made the decision after complaints from prosecutors, who said Analta had attended one of Ahok’s previous hearings though it was prohibited for a witness to do so.

Analta admitted that he had once attended an earlier hearing, during which the court heard testimony from witnesses presented by prosecutors.  

“As the witness has heard testimonies of other witnesses, the judges believe this witness cannot be questioned,” Dwiarso said during a hearing held by the North Jakarta District Court at the Agriculture Ministry in Ragunan, South Jakarta.

He added that the court’s judges had reminded anyone expected to be presented as a witness in the trial to leave the courtroom before each hearing started.

Dwiarso said Ahok’s lawyers should have reminded Analta to leave the courtroom.

He said witnesses could attend some court hearings but not those that featured witness testimony. He added that Ahok’s lawyers were allowed to present another witness to replace Analta.

While accepting the judges’ decision, Ahok’s legal team said the court should have heard Analta’s testimony. One member of the team said prevailing rules only prohibited witnesses from talking to other witnesses, not their presence at hearings. “Analta never communicated with other witnesses,” the lawyer said. (Callistasia Anggun Wijaya)