Trial Of Unlawful Killing FPI Warriors Postponed Next Week Following 2 Defendants Affected By COVID-19

A member of the legal advisor shows a doctor's statement from the Pondok Indah Hospital regarding the condition of the two defendants of "unlawful killing" (Photo via Antara)

JAKARTA - The panel of judges at the South Jakarta District Court postponed the hearing on the agenda for reading the charges against two police officers who were accused of the unlawful killing of Laskar FPI because they tested positive for COVID-19.

The presiding judge, Muhammad Arif Nuryanta, determined that the trial would resume virtually and directly with restrictions at the South Jakarta District Court on Tuesday, February 22 next week.

"Today's trial is finished. We have postponed the trial and we will reopen it next Sunday, February 22 while seeing the progress of the defendants," Arif said before finally knocking the hammer to mark the closing of the trial, Antara, Tuesday, February 15.

The panel of judges opened the trial at the South Jakarta District Court, Jakarta today and was attended by one representative from the public prosecutor, and one member of the legal advisory team. Other prosecutors who usually attend the trial, namely Zet Todung Allo, Erna, Paris Manalu, and Fadjar, attended the virtual trial from the South Jakarta District Attorney.

Meanwhile, a team of legal advisers led by Henry Yosodiningrat attended the trial from his residence in South Jakarta. In the trial, Nuryanta explained, the trial was held virtually in accordance with the decisions of the Head of the South Jakarta District Court and the Head of the DKI Jakarta High Court.

The purpose of these restrictions is to prevent the spread of COVID-19, especially the Omicron variant. He also asked the position of the two defendants, namely Police Brigadier One Fikri Ramadhan and Police Inspector Two Mohammad Yusmin Ohorella, who were not visible on the screen.

The legal advisor also explained that both of them were positive for COVID-19 and were recommended by doctors from Pondok Indah Hospital to undergo self-isolation for 14 days starting on February 14. "By law, the trial should not be extended to the defendant who is sick," Henry said to the panel of judges.

Nuryanta also asked the public prosecutor's opinion regarding the condition of the two defendants, then the prosecutor submitted the decision to the panel of judges. Ramadhan and Ohorella are on trial in the case of the unlawful killing that killed six members of the FPI.

The two defendants were charged by the public prosecutor with article 338 and article 351 paragraph (3) of the Criminal Code in conjunction with article 55 paragraph (1) of the 1st Criminal Code. The penalty is 15 years in prison and seven years in prison.