Prosecutors Reluctant To Ask Witnesses To Relieve Rizieq Shihab's Petamburan Crowd Case

JAKARTA - The team of public prosecutors decided not to ask witnesses about the alleged crowd case and the violation of the health protocol in Petamburan against the defendant Rizieq Shihab and five former FPI officials.

The reason is that the team of prosecutors considered fact witnesses and experts who were presented at the previous trial that they had clearly given their testimony.

Originally, the two witnesses presented by Rizieq Shihab, among others, were the Chairperson of the Indonesian Knight Front, Zainal Arifin, and the former Head of the Indonesian Hilal Merah Indonesia FPI, Ali Al Hamid.

"We, from the public prosecutor, have provided sufficient fact witnesses, including experts. Because this was presented by a legal advisor, we do not want to ask questions", said the prosecutor at the trial at the East Jakarta District Court, Monday, May 3.

Then, the presiding judge Suparman Nyompa who heard the statement from the team of prosecutors again confirmed the decision.

"So the prosecutor doesn't ask questions?", asked Suparman Nyompa.

"Yes", replied the prosecutor.

Then, the presiding judge decided to continue the trial. Witness Zainal was asked to explain about the implementation of the prokes at the Prophet's birthday and the wedding party of Rizieq Shihab's daughter.

"Can all of them be used with masks?", asked the judge

"Use all the masks," said Zainal.

"Because we have indeed deployed our officers to distribute masks", continued Zainal.

In the alleged violation of the health protocol in Petamburan, Rizieq Shihab was charged with incitement to the appearance of a crowd at his daughter's wedding as well as commemorating the Prophet's birthday. This crowd is taking place in the midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Rizieq was charged with violating Article 160 of the Criminal Code in conjunction with Article 93 of Law Number 6 of 2018 concerning Health Quarantine in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph 1 to 1 of the Criminal Code and or Article 82 paragraph 1 in conjunction with Article 59 paragraph 3 letters c and d Law Number 16 of 2017 concerning Community Organization jo Article 55 paragraph 1 to 1 of the Criminal Code in conjunction with Article 10 letter b of the Criminal Code in conjunction with Article 35 paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code.