Indonesian Navy Soldiers Killing Journalists In Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan Ask To Be Free From Sentence

JAKARTA - TNI AL Classi Satu Jumran soldiers asked the panel of judges to be released from punishment and all charges for premeditated murder of a journalist from Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan (Kalsel) named Juwita (23).

"The defendant did not commit premeditated murder, only spontaneously because he was emotional and without careful preparation," said Defendant's Legal Counsel, Marine Lieutenant CK Efan Tanaem representing the defendant when reading a memorandum of defense (pledoi) to the panel of judges in the Antasari Court Room, Military Court I-06 Banjarmasin in Banjarbaru, Thursday, June 5, confiscated by Antara.

Lt. Efan emphasized that none of the witness statements had experienced and seen the murder incident, so it was reasonable to doubt all his statements at trial.

"Spontaneous killings, no systematic plans and no thorough preparations as alleged by the military prosecutor. The defendant was not proven to have violated Article 340 of the Criminal Code regarding premeditated murder, we reject all arguments submitted by the military prosecutor," said Lieutenant Efan in a pledoi letter.

He believed that the defendant never had the intention to kill the victim, and the murder incident occurred because of the defendant's temporary emotions.

"The defendant was emotional because the victim recorded the defendant wearing pants and clothes when he checked in the room of one of the hotels, there the defendant was emotional and there was a commotion that resulted in the victim's death," said Lieutenant Efan.

Based on all the facts of the trial and the testimony of witnesses who did not know about the incident of the murder directly, Lieutenant Efan asked the panel of judges to decide and declare that the defendant was not legally and convincingly proven guilty of committing the crime of premeditated murder.

Then, to release the defendant from all charges and charges, the defendant also rejected the restitution fee of Rp. 287 million which was requested by the victim's family because of this cost according to legal counsel, there was no direct relationship with the crime of murder. The defendant also did not have economic capacity.

"So that the panel of judges restores the defendant's rights in his abilities, position, dignity, and dignity. Or if the panel of judges has other views and opinions, please give the fairest decision," said Lieutenant Efan.

After reading the entire memorandum of defense, Odmil Banjarmasin expressed his objection and would submit a replica as an answer to the defense of the defendant's legal adviser.

The panel of judges chaired by Lt. Col. CK Arie Fitriansyah scheduled a next trial on Tuesday (10/6) with the agenda of reading the replica by the military prosecutor.

In a hearing on Wednesday (4/6), the Head of Odmil III-15 Banjarmasin Lt. Col. CHK Sunandi charged TNI AL personnel Classi Satu Jumran, the accused of premeditated murder with life imprisonment.

Sunandi emphasized that the defendant was intentionally and had planned to take the victim's life so that it was appropriate to be charged with life imprisonment and additional penalties so that the defendant Jumran was fired from the Indonesian Navy service.

The murder of a Juwita journalist took place on Jalan Trans-Gunung Kupang, Cempaka Village, Cempaka District, Banjarbaru City on March 22, 2025.

The victim's body was found by residents lying on the side of the road at around 15.00 WITA with his motorbike which then appeared to be a single accident victim.

The victim works as a media journalist on a local network (online) in Banjarbaru and has pocketed a journalist competency test (UKW) with the qualifications of young journalists.

Residents who found it for the first time did not see any signs of the victim having a traffic accident. In the neck of the victim there were a number of bruises, and the victim's relatives also said that Juwita's cellphone was not found at the location.