First Session Of Agus Bentung, NTB Disability Commission: Fulfillment Of The Rights Of The Defendant Is Available

Chairman of the NTB Regional Disability Commission Joko Jumadi. (ANTARA/Dhimas B.P.)

The West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Regional Disability Commission said that the Mataram District Court (PN) had fulfilled the rights of the accused of sexual harassment I Wayan Agus Suartama (IWAS) alias Agus Bentung as a person with disabilities in carrying out the trial.

"We see that the trial runs optimally, the fulfillment of Agus' rights is available, access to the court is available. In fact, Agus wanted to go to the toilet, it was already accessible," said the Head of the NTB Regional Disability Commission together with his members who participated in monitoring Agus' inaugural trial at the Mataram District Court, Thursday, January 16, quoted by Antara.

In the process of the first trial which was held behind closed doors, Joko saw that the court also opened access to assistance for the defendant Agus.

"In addition to being accompanied by his parents, there are also city social services (social services), provincial social services. We from the KDD are also backing up if it is necessary to prepare assistance. There are also 16 advocates who provide legal assistance. So, their rights have been fulfilled," he said.

Yan Mangandar, who is also part of the NTB KDD member, also conveyed that from the trial with the agenda of reading the indictment, Agus was seen getting the freedom to give testimony before the panel of judges.

"From the accompanying information, it is also stated that the trial process is running freely, meaning that Agus provides information freely in the trial. So, there are no obstacles to accessing justice for Agus," said Yan.

The Mataram District Court held Agus' first trial behind closed doors considering that the classification of cases was categorized as crimes against decency.

Mataram District Court Spokesman Lalu Moh. Sandi Iramaya said that the defendant through his legal advisor did not object to the indictment of the public prosecutor or exception.

The panel of judges chaired by Mahendrasmara Purnamajati then determined Agus' follow-up trial on Thursday (23/1) with the agenda of proof from the public prosecutor.

Sandi explained that in the next agenda the public prosecutor would present five witnesses. Regarding the identity of the witness, he admitted that he could not state it to the public considering that this case was classified as a crime against decency.

In the indictment of the public prosecutor, Agus was charged with violating Article 6 letter A and/or letter C in conjunction with Article 15 paragraph (1) letter E of Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 12 of 2022 concerning the Crime of Sexual Violence.