Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia`s prominent musician Ahmad Dhani will be transferred to Surabaya prison for another trial over another defamation charge, Ade Kusmayanto, spokesman of directorate general of correctional service of the Justice and Human Rights Ministry, stated.

"That is right. It is planned for this morning," Kusmayanto noted here, Wednesday.

Dhani was found guilty of tweeting a hate speech on his Twitter account and was awarded a 1.5-year prison term by the South Jakarta Court on Jan 28, this year.

Dhani had appealed to a higher court, but he was immediately imprisoned after the Jakarta Court trial.

On Wednesday, Dhani will be taken to Surabaya at the request of the Surabaya prosecutor`s office that has charged him for defamation against a certain group or mass organization over his statement on social media on August 26, 2018.

The Surabaya Court will hold the first trial against Dhani on February 7, 2019.

The Surabaya prosecutor`s office charges Dhani for his statement on his Instagram account.

"These who are protesting, the protestors defend the ruler. It`s funny, funny. These, these are the idiots, protesting people who are not in power," according to the video containing Dhani`s statement.

Dhani is a famous Indonesian rock musician, songwriter, arranger, and producer. He is the frontman of the Dewa 19 rock band, and also a member of the inter-continental band The Rock.

He has worked as a promoter and songwriter for other artists, including Maia Ahmad, Agnes Monica, Alexa Key, and Mulan Jameela. He has won numerous awards, including the IMA for best musical arrangement.

Currently, Dhani has joined the camp of presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto, the rival of incumbent Joko Widodo, in the presidential election to be held on April 17, 2019.

Reporting by Joko Susilo, fardah

Reporter: Antara
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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