9 Former Members Of The Barelang Narcotics Unit Sentenced To Life In Prison

The panel of judges at the Batam District Court, Riau Islands, sentenced nine former members of the Narcotics Unit of the Barelang Police to life imprisonment because they were proven to have legally set aside 1 kg of methamphetamine evidence.

The trial of the 9 former members of the Barelang Police Narcotics Unit lasted two days, namely on Wednesday (4/6) for the defendants Shigit Sarwo Edhi, Rahmadi, Alex Chandra and Fadhilah. Meanwhile, the trial for the verdict was Thursday (5/6) for the defendants, Wan Rahmat, Ibnu Ma'ruf Rambe, Arianto, Jaka Surya and Junaidi.

The defendants Shigit Sarwo Edhi, Rahmadi, Alex Chandra and Fadillah were previously charged with the death penalty by the public prosecutor (JPU), but the judge eased his decision with a life sentence.

"The change in the verdict from the death penalty to life imprisonment shows that the Indonesian legal system still provides opportunities for the convict to improve himself," said member of the panel of judges Dauglas Napitupulu, Thursday, June 5.

Meanwhile, the defendants Wan Rahmat, Ibnu Ma'ruf Rambe, Arianto, Jaka Surya and Junaidi were previously sentenced to life imprisonment.

Previously, the panel of judges had also reduced the verdict against the former Kasatresnarkoba Polresta Barelang Kompol Satria Nanda from the death penalty to life.

Based on this decision, both the public prosecutor (JPU) and the defendant's team of lawyers both filed an appeal against the Batam District Court's decision.

This case dragged a total of 10 former members of the Narcotics Unit of the Barelag Police as defendants. In addition, there were two other defendants from the civilian element, namely Aziz Martua Siregar and Zulkifli Simanjuntak, acting as drug dealers.

Both were sentenced to 20 years in prison.