Joko Tjandra Changed His Name To Joe Chan, The Reason He Wanted To Use English In Papua New Guinea

ILLUSTRATION / Joko Tjandra (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The defendant in the case of alleged gratification of the Supreme Court (MA) fatwa, Joko Tjandra, opened the reasons for his decision to change his name to Joe Chan.

The reason for the name change was conveyed by Joko Tjandra when asked by the presiding judge Muhammad Damis during the trial.

Initially, Judge Damis confirmed the truth about Joko Tjandra who had changed his name. Then, immediately asked the reason after Joko Tjandra agreed to the truth.

"What is the reason you changed your name?" asked Damis during a trial at the Corruption Court, Central Jakarta, Thursday, February 25.

Joko Tjandra answered with a unique reason. He admitted that he decided to change his name to Joe Chan while in Papua New Guinea only because the communication there was in English.

"Everyone (in Papua New Guinea) uses English. Joe is the stand from Joko. Chan is my Chinese name, so I use Joe Chan," he said.

Joko Tjandra was charged with bribing Attorney Pimangki Sirna Malasari for 500 thousand United States (US) dollars. The bribe was intended so that Joko Tjandra would not be executed in the Bank Bali cessie case and return to Indonesia.