Bahar Smith Hoax Case Trial To Be Held Online

BANDUNG - The Class IA Bandung District Court (PN) said the trial for the hoax case or the spread of false news with the suspect Bahar Smith could potentially be held online.

The Junior Criminal Registrar of the Bandung District Court (PN) Entis Sutisna explained that the online trial referred to the Supreme Court Regulation (Perma) and the Supreme Court Circular (SEMA) related to the conduct of the trial during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"It looks like it's online, but we don't know yet, we're still waiting from the prosecutor. But maybe it's online," said Entis, in Bandung, West Java, as reported by Antara, Tuesday, March 22.

He also confirmed that the Bahar Smith case file related to the spread of hoaxes had been received by the Bandung District Court from the West Java High Prosecutor's Office (Kejati). However, he said, so far the Bandung District Court has not appointed a panel of judges who will handle the Bahar trial.

"The judge has not yet been appointed, most likely next week's trial," he also said.

Head of the Legal Information Section of the West Java Prosecutor's Office, Dodi Gazali Emil, said the location of the trial was moved from the Bandung District Court (Bale Bandung), to the Bandung District Court (Bandung City), due to security and order considerations.

The reason is that although it is held online, the mass of supporters is predicted to come to the location of the trial. Therefore, the location of the trial was moved to a more strategic area of Bandung City.

"Although the trial is conducted online, it is possible to invite mass supporters so that there will be a crowd of supporters during the COVID-19 pandemic," said Dodi.