REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The Judicial Commission (KY) has been monitoring the process of a blasphemy trial case of Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama.

The Judicial Commission has a duty to make sure that the process of the trial is being carried out with good intention and in accordance with the role given by the state, KY spokesman Farid Wajdi said in a short text message, here, Wednesday.

"The Commission is using two methods, namely closed or opened monitoring, depending on the internal assessment on the urgency of the ongoing case," he said.

Concerning the substance of the case, the Commission is, however, restricting itself, because, the independence of the judge must be protected while the case is still going on.

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"The focus of the Commission is on the ethics of the judge panel in dealing with the case. It concerns their behaviors inside the court room as well as outside," he said.

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The Jakarta governor has been accused of blasphemy against the Islamic Holy Book of Al Quran when he gave a speech in the Seribu Islands, northern Jakarta, last September.

During his speech, Ahok said the voters had been lied to by those citing surah Al Maidah verse 51 of the Al Quran. 

Blasphemy is a criminal offense in Indonesia and is punishable by up to five years in prison.

Ahok's blasphemy trial began on December 13, 2016. 

During the 18th trial on April 20, the prosecutors had demanded the court to sentence Ahok to one year's imprisonment and to place him on probation for two years over blasphemy charges.

"Hence, it is concluded that Jakarta Governor Ahok has been legitimately proven and has convincingly met formulations of criminal element in line with the second alternative Article No. 156 of the Criminal Code (KUHP)," Ali Mukartono, the chief prosecutor, noted during the trial held at the North Jakarta District Court, at the Agriculture Ministry, here, on April 20. The North Jakarta District Court is expected to hand down a ruling before the fasting month of Ramadhan, which will fall in May.

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