Prosecutors Demand 1.5 Years In Prison 3 Defendants Of Pangolin Scale Sellers

North Sumatra Prosecutor's Office Randi H Tambunan read out the memorandum of demand at the Medan District Court, North Sumatra, Monday (11/9/2023). (ANTARA/M Sahbainy Nasution)

The prosecutor demanded 1.5 years in prison for three defendants selling five hornbill beaks and pangolin scales weighing 275 kilograms (kg).

They are Edy Surja Susanto alias Aan, Aldi Syahputra alias Aldi, and Arbain alias Bain.

"Demanding the three defendants for 1.5 years in prison and a fine of Rp. 10 million, subsidiary to two months in prison," said Public Prosecutor (JPU) of the North Sumatra High Prosecutor's Office (Kejati) Randi H Tambunan during a trial at the Medan District Court (PN), North Sumatra, Monday 11 September, confiscated by Antara.

The prosecutor assessed that the three defendants violated the primary indictment, Article 40 paragraph (2) in conjunction with Article 21 paragraph (2) letter d of Law Number 5 of 1990 concerning Natural Resources Conservation.

"The burdensome thing is that the three defendants did not support the government's program in preserving rare animals and the plant and animal ecosystem, while the mitigating factor was polite and regretted his actions at trial," said Randi.

Meanwhile, according to Randi, the evidence obtained will be submitted to the North Sumatra Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSD).

After reading the memorandum of demand from the Public Prosecutor, the panel of judges chaired by Oloan Silalahi will continue the trial on September 25, 2023, with the agenda of the verdict. This is because the defendant through legal advisor stated that he admitted his mistake.

In the indictment, on June 8, 2023, Bareskrim Polri officers received information that there was a trade in pangolin scales and hornbill beaks in Medan Area District, Medan.

In that area, Bareskrim officers arrested Edy Surjana Susanto. From the results of the development of Aldi Syahputra and Arbain were arrested in the same area. The suspect's confession, some of the protected animals will be sold in Jakarta.