Hargo.co.id, GORONTALO – The trial of the Pohuwato riot case resumed at the Gorontalo District Court. Held in the Corruption and Industrial Relations Courtroom of Gorontalo, the session with the examination agenda of witnesses from the Public Prosecutor (JPU) presented 3 witnesses from the Police.
According to the defense lawyers, the testimonies presented by the JPU witnesses were deemed insufficient to prove that the defendants incited the violence.
“What was revealed earlier focused more on the destruction whereas the demand was incitement, and some evidence of incitement against our clients is still unclear,” said Abdul Wahidin Tanaiyo after the session.
Muhamad Furqon, one of the defendant’s legal representatives, also stated that he still believes the allegations against his client RS have not been proven. The testimonies of the JPU witnesses, he noted, did not solely concentrate on the issue of destruction.
“Up until today, it has not been proven. The witnesses presented only explained the issue of destruction, but for incitement under Article 160, there is none yet,” added Muhamad Furqon.
Meanwhile, Andi H. Umar, another defendant’s lawyer, explained that today’s trial agenda included an interim verdict and the examination of witnesses from the JPU. The testimonies of the witnesses, he mentioned, were contradicted by the defendants.
“It was witnessed today that many of the testimonies presented by the three witnesses were contradicted by the defendants. We can conclude that the incident in Pohuwato on September 21, 2023, was not solely the defendants’ activities, but rather a mass outpouring, indicating that this action was carried out by many people, not just the defendants listed and tried today,” he explained.
For your information, the trial for the 15 defendants will resume on January 30, 2024, with the examination agenda of witnesses from the JPU.(*)
Writer: Riyan Lagili
