Rizieq Shihab Is Furious That The Names Of Witnesses In The UMMI Hospital Case Are Still Being 'hidden' By The Prosecutor

Rizieq Shihab during a speech at his residence (Photo: Irfan Meidianto)

JAKARTA - Rizieq Shihab took issue with the public prosecutor (JPU) who was reluctant to name the witnesses who would be presented in the follow-up trial of the UMMI Hospital swab result. This is because in other cases the witness's name was already known.

This problem started when Rizieq Shihab's team of lawyers asked the prosecuting attorney to explain the names of the witnesses who would be presented at the next trial. However, the prosecutor refused on the grounds that it was their right.

"Honorable panel of judges that bringing whoever witnesses to trial is the right of the public prosecutor. So in our opinion it cannot be forced by legal advisors," said the prosecutor at the trial at the East Jakarta District Court, Wednesday, April 7.

Rizieq, who heard this, immediately raised an objection. Rizieq said the prosecutor should have been able to convey it. In fact, Rizieq compared it with the trials of other cases.

"In another trial, the witness' problem was not an obstacle. In another trial the prosecutor directly mentioned the names of 10 witnesses who will be presented at the next trial," said Rizieq.

"As soon as we asked for the name (of the witness) to be given immediately. In the other sessions everything was going well, because we needed it, our legal counsel needed the names of the witnesses so that we could be better prepared for the upcoming trial," Rizieq continued.

Mediating the debate, the presiding judge Khadwanto said that at this time the prosecutor was deemed not to have properly prepared the matter of witnesses. So, the prosecutor was asked to present the names of the witnesses in the next trial.

"It's not ready today, it's okay, but at the next trial please prepare the names of witnesses and their numbers," said Khadwanto.

Previously it was reported, the panel of judges rejected the objection or exception note filed by Rizieq Shihab and his team of lawyers in the case of the swab results of the UMMI Hospital in Bogor. That way, the trial of this case will proceed to the stage of witness examination.

"To completely reject the objections or exceptions of the defendant and the defendant's team of attorneys," said the presiding judge Khadwanto.

With the rejection of this exception, the East Jakarta District Court has the authority to hear the case. Until later it was decided whether Rizieq Shihab was guilty or not in the case of the results of the swab test at the UMMI Hospital in Bogor.

Then, the panel of judges also assessed that the indictment made by the team of public prosecutors (JPU) was in accordance with the applicable regulations. Thus, this indictment can be used as a basis for case examination.

"Stating that the general prosecutor's indictment registration number PDN01 / JKT.TIM / EKU / 03/2021 dated March 4, 2021 on behalf of the defendant Muhamamd Rizieq Shihab has been drafted carefully, clearly and completely," said Khadwanto.

"Ordered the public prosecutor to continue investigating case number 225 / Pid.Sus / 2021 / PN.Jaktim on behalf of the defendant Muhammad Rizieq Shihab," continued Khadwanto.