Judge Says Bahar Smith Gives Ulama A Negative Image

BANDUNG - The Bandung District Court Judge sentenced Bahar Smith to three months in prison in connection with the online taxi driver abuse case.

Chairman of the Panel of Judges Surachmat said that Smith was proven to have abused together, causing the victim with the initials A to be injured. The incident itself occurred in 2018.

According to the judge, Bahar Smith has fulfilled the elements of Article 351 in conjunction with Article 55 of the Criminal Code which is a more subsidiary indictment in the case of persecution. Meanwhile, the judge decided that Bahar was acquitted of the primary and subsidiary charges, namely Article 170 of the Criminal Code.

According to the judge, the aggravating thing was that he gave a negative image as a cleric who could not contain his emotions. Then the mitigating thing is that he behaves politely during the trial. In addition, he has also made peace with the victim along with giving money as compensation.

Regarding the defense of the attorney, the judge considered that there was no element that required him to be released from punishment.

"The application must be rejected, the panel of judges does not see any elements that must acquit," the judge said as quoted by Antara, Tuesday, July 22.

Ichwan Tuankotta as Smith's attorney said they respect the judge's decision, which can be said to be neither too heavy nor light.

The legal team has not yet decided to accept or reject the judge's decision. The panel of judges gave 7 days to appeal. "We are still thinking about it, Your Majesty," said Tuankotta.

The accused of assaulting a taxi driver, Bahar Smith, admitted that he was ready to accept whatever the judge's decision was.

"As before, I am responsible. I accept whatever the verdict is," said Bahar Smith, after hearing his verdict, at the Bandung District Court, Bandung City.

Even so, Bahar also still fully handed over the results of the case to his attorney. Meanwhile, Bahar was sentenced to three months in prison for mistreatment of a taxi driver in 2018.