Inspector General Teddy Minahasa Sentenced To Life In Prison But Lighter Than Prosecutors' Demands

JAKARTA - Former West Sumatra Police Chief Inspector General Teddy Minahasa was sentenced to life imprisonment in the alleged narcotics trafficking case. The sanctions imposed by the panel of judges were lower than the demands of the public prosecutor (JPU). "The verdict against the defendant is therefore punishable by life imprisonment," said Chief Judge Jon Arman Saragih at the West Jakarta District Court, Tuesday, May 9. The verdict was lighter. Because, previously, the Public Prosecutor demanded Inspector General Teddy Minahasa with the death penalty. However, behind that decision, of course, the panel of judges had various weights, both aggravating and easing the former West Sumatra Police Chief. Previously, it was reported that Inspector General Teddy Minahasa was charged with the death penalty in the case of selling narcotics type shabu evidence of the case. There were 8 burdensome considerations for the former West Sumatra Police Chief, ranging from not admitting his actions to taking advantage of his position. "The defendant is a member of the Indonesian National Police Chief with the position of the West Sumatra Provincial Police Chief, where as a law enforcer, especially with the position level of the Regional Police Chief, the defendant should be at the forefront in eradicating the illicit trafficking of narcotics. But the defendant actually involved himself and his men by utilizing his position in the illicit trafficking narcotics," said prosecutor. The second thing is burdensome, Inspector General Teddy Minahasa is also considered to have enjoyed the money from the sale of narcotics. Therefore, his actions are considered to have tarnished the name of the Polri institution as a law enforcement officer." The defendant's actions have undermined public trust in the Indonesian State Police Institution whose members are approximately 400,000 personnel, "said the prosecutor.

The prosecutor also assessed that during the trial, Teddy Minahasa did not admit his involvement in drug trafficking. In fact, he always argued on complicated grounds. "The defendant's actions as the regional police chief have betrayed the President's orders in law enforcement and eradicating illicit narcotics trafficking and the defendant does not support the government's program in eradicating the illicit trafficking of narcotics," said the prosecutor.