Ahmad Dhani to face trial in Surabaya court on Feb 7

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The Surabaya Court has set a schedule for inaugural session of defamation case involving Gerindra politician Ahmad Dhani on next Thursday (Feb 7). Presiding Judge R Anto Wiyono to read the charges.

"Three judges have been appointed for this case, lead by Judge R Anton Wiyono," Surabaya Court spokesperson, Sigit Sutriono told reporters in Surabaya on Thursday (Jan 31).

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Police to hand over Ahmad Dhani, evidences to Prosecutor

Sigit explained Dhani was charged by Article 27 paragraph 3 on Information and Electronic Transaction Law (UU ITE). This case was related to Dhani's statement on social media, which was considered to have offended a group or mass organization ahead of the Declaration of #2019GantiPresiden in Surabaya on August 26, 2018.

"Furthermore, related to efforts to bring Ahmad Dhani who is currently serving a sentence in Cipinang Prison to Surabaya, it is the authority of the prosecutor's office," he said.

Head of General Criminal Section of the Surabaya District Prosecutor Didik Adytomo ensured that he was currently coordinating with the South Jakarta District Prosecutor's Office to transfer the detention of Dhani to Surabaya.

Earlier on Jan 28, Dhani was sent to Cipinang Correctional Institution in East Jakarta following one and half years prison term handed by the South Jakarta District Court in a case of hate speech.

"Until now, we are still trying to prosecute the detention of Dhani to Surabaya to enable the trial to be held at the Surabaya District Court," he said.

The defamation case started following Dhani's harsh comments against a group of people who reject his arrival in Surabaya, East Java to attend #2019ChangePresident event on August 26, 2018. He was halted to leave the Majapahit Hotel by Koalisi Elemen Bela (KEB) NKRI members who protested outside the hotel.

On August 30, 2018, KEB NKRI chairman Edi Firmanto filed a police report against Dhani. He considered Dhani's harsh statements was addressed to members of Banser, youth wing of Nahdlatul Ulama.

Edi submitted evidence, among others a video posted on Dhani's Instagram account. The video showed Dhani called 100 people who protested his presence in Surabaya as ‘idiot’. Dhani then was examined at East Java Police headquarter on Oct 1, 2018 as witness. On Oct 18, 2018 he was named as suspect in defamation case.

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