The Home Affairs Ministry could temporarily dismiss Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama from his position as he is now on trial as a suspect in a case involving blasphemy, an official has said.

“If the court procures a letter explaining the charges and maximum sentence that might be given to Ahok, the Home Affairs Ministry could temporarily dismiss him. If judges later decide he is not guilty, he can go back to his position as a governor,” the ministry’s director general of regional autonomy, Sumarsono, said as quoted by kompas.com on Wednesday.

Sumarsono, who currently serves as Jakarta acting governor, further said that without such a letter, the ministry could not process the temporary dismissal of Ahok.

(Read also: Ahok supporters remain loyal despite public pressure)

Citing Law No. 23/2014 on regional administrations, Sumarsono said a court could deliver such a notification letter to the Home Affairs Ministry if a regional leader faced a criminal charge, which carried a maximum sentence of more than five years in prison.

Ahok is now charged for allegedly violating Articles 156 and 156a of the Criminal Code on blasphemy, which carries a maximum sentence of four and five years imprisonment, respectively.

Sumarsono said should Ahok be temporarily dismissed, Jakarta Deputy Governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat would be appointed as acting governor until October 2017. The new governor and deputy governor would be inaugurated in December 2017, he explained. (cal/ebf)