Ammar Zoni Requests Offline Session: I Must Dismiss All News That Doesn't Match Facts

Ammar Zoni (Ivan Two Men/VOI)

JAKARTA Actor Ammar Zoni submitted a strong request to the panel of judges so that the narcotics case trial that ensnared him could be held face-to-face (offline).

Speaking through a video conference from the prison, Ammar reasoned that an offline trial was important for him to straighten out the slanted news that had been widely circulated in the community.

According to Ammar, the news that has developed so far has grown and is not in accordance with the actual facts. He felt the need to appear in person in court to defend his good name and his family.

"This news is too big, Your Majesty. The news is not in accordance with the facts later, and this must be presented," said Ammar Zoni before the panel of judges at the Central Jakarta District Court, Thursday, October 23.

"I don't want my family to know in the end I will be as reported. I have to break it all out," he continued.

Ammar also highlighted his experience of attending the previous trial online. He felt there was a big difference between online and face-to-face trials.

"Because I've also experienced online trials yesterday, Your Majesty. And it's different from the offline trial," he concluded.

Apart from defending himself, Ammar admitted that he wanted to be present in person at the trial as well because he risked the reputation he had built so far.

"This is because I brought my name too, brought my big name. So, I want this to be presented directly offline. So that everyone knows and can see," he said.

However, Ammar Zoni's request for a face-to-face hearing was finally rejected by the panel of judges and the Public Prosecutor (JPU).

The presiding judge explained that the decision to continue holding an online trial had been determined based on Supreme Court Regulation (Perma) Number 4 of 2020 concerning electronic trials, citing certain 'states', including the detention distance of the defendants far from the court.

"For reasons of the distance between the detention sites of the defendants far from the Central Jakarta District Court, namely at the Class IIA Karanganyar Special Prison, Nusakambangan," said the judge reading the determination.

The prosecutor also emphasized similar reasons. According to him, presenting the six defendants from Nusakambangan to Jakarta every week will complicate the trial process and increase the cost.

"Of course we have a bit of trouble. Especially now it's a session once a week. So I think it's a bit difficult to present, it takes time and costs," said the prosecutor.