Thousands of soldiers secure trial in Indonesia

 

 

TT

 

Published 17.09

 

Former Indonesian President Joko Widodo outside the East Jakarta District Court. Photo: Achmad Ibrahim/AP/TT

Police and military personnel are providing security on Thursday for a trial in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, involving the country’s former president, Joko Widodo.

Hundreds of Widodo’s supporters have gathered outside the courthouse, where the former president has been summoned to testify in a defamation case concerning allegations that he used a forged university degree.

Meanwhile, tensions are high in the capital following accusations that high-ranking officials were involved in the wiretapping of phone calls made by the current president, Prabowo Subianto.

Three high-ranking officials have already been arrested in connection with the so-called wiretapping scandal—among them Listyo Sigit Prabowo, who was appointed as chief of staff to Subianto just last month.

The trial involving Widodo is unrelated to the wiretapping case.