Masir Cendet Bird Hunter in Baluran Sentenced to 5 Months, Tomorrow Immediately Free

Majelis Hakim Pengadilan Negeri Situbondo, Jawa Timur, menjatuhkan vonis lima bulan 20 hari terhadap terdakwa Masir (75) karena terbukti bersalah melakukan perburuan liar menangkap lima ekor burung cendet di kawasan Taman Nasional Baluran, Jawa Timur.

"In essence, Mr. Masir is guilty, but because he is old and is the backbone of the family and cooperative in the trial, the panel of judges gave a lower sentence than the prosecution," said Situbondo District Court Public Relations Officer Alto Antonio after the trial was reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, January 7.

According to him, the decision or verdict of the panel of judges was lower than the prosecutor's demand for public prosecutors (JPU) of the Situbondo District Attorney's Office, which was submitted at the hearing with the agenda of replik, namely for six months.

He emphasized that the decision of the panel of judges was not under any pressure or intervention from any party, but a letter from the Regent of Situbondo and the local DPRD was considered in the trial of the illegal hunting case.

"This is the fairest decision, and there is no pressure or intimidation from any party," he said.

Meanwhile, the defendant's lawyer, Masir, Hanif Fariyadi, said that based on the decision of the panel of judges for 5 months and 20 days, the defendant is estimated to be free on January 8, 2026, because he has served his sentence for 5 months and 19 days.

"If we count, tomorrow it will be free, because the judge's decision is calculated at the time of arrest plus the period of detention," he said.

Masir was arrested by Baluran National Park officers on July 23, 2025 and was detained on July 24, 2025, or a case of poaching or stealing five cendet birds in Baluran National Park.

According to the Law on the Conservation of Natural Living Resources and Ecosystems, perpetrators are threatened with a minimum of at least 1 year in prison.

However, on December 18, 2025, the JPU improved the two-year prison sentence to six months for the defendant.

The revision of the ambulance's demands against the defendant, a resident of Sumberanyar Village, Banyuputih District, was conveyed by the JPU at the trial with the agenda of replicating the response to the pledoi of the defendant's lawyer.