Independent Report – The legal team of PDI Perjuangan Secretary-General Hasto Kristiyanto requested ten days from the panel of judge to prepare their objection plea during the trial at the Central Jakarta District Court on Friday, March 14, 2024. Hasto’s lawyer, Maqdir Ismail, explained that drafting the plea requires careful preparation, which is why they needed sufficient time.
During the trial, Maqdir used the legend of Bandung Bondowoso, who built a temple overnight, as a metaphor. He stated that his team did not possess such extraordinary abilities and therefore asked for time until March 24 to complete the plea. However, the panel of judges denied the request, citing a tight trial schedule and the necessity of avoiding excessive delays.
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The judge explained that other hearings also required attention, making the requested timeframe too long. Confident in the legal team’s expertise, the judge expressed belief that they could prepare the plea in a shorter period. The judge then set the deadline for Friday, March 21, 2025, allowing sufficient time for preparation without disrupting the trial process.
In the ruling, the judge emphasized the importance of focusing on the objection plea first. Consequently, the trial scheduled for that day was postponed to the following week. The judge urged the legal team to make the most of the time granted to build a well-structured defense.
That day’s trial marked the first hearing with Hasto as the defendant in the alleged bribery case and obstruction of justice related to fugitive Harun Masiku. The session focused on the prosecutors from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) reading the indictment. The hearing lasted about one and a half hours before it was adjourned.
Responding to the proceedings, one of Hasto’s legal representatives, Febri Diansyah, stated that they would examine every charge made by the prosecutors. He assured that all evidence presented in court would undergo thorough scrutiny to ensure its validity.
Febri also highlighted the KPK’s investigation process against his client. He hoped that no procedural violations would occur during the trial, unlike what he claimed happened during the investigation stage. If any misconduct or abuse of power occurred during the investigation, he stressed that the trial should proceed fairly and impartially.
Furthermore, Febri underlined the need for an independent judicial process. He hoped that no external parties would interfere, ensuring that the trial could serve as an educational process for the public. He believed that a transparent and lawful trial would help maintain public trust in Indonesia’s judicial system.
With the judge’s decision to schedule the objection plea hearing for March 21, 2025, Hasto’s legal team now has a limited but adequate time frame to prepare their defense. Meanwhile, the public will continue following the trial as part of efforts to uphold justice and ensure transparency in legal proceedings.
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