Courier Of 23.8 Kilograms Of Methamphetamine In Medan Sentenced To Life In Prison

The defendant Arjuna Faddli Sinaga listened to the judge's decision in the Cakra V courtroom, Medan District Court, Thursday (16/1/2025). (ANTARA/Aris Rinaldi Nasution)

JAKARTA - The panel of judges at the Medan District Court, North Sumatra sentenced the defendant Arjuna Faddli Sinaga (32) to life imprisonment, because he was proven to be a drug courier of 23.8 kilograms of methamphetamine.

"Sentenced the defendant Arjuna Faddli Sinaga to life imprisonment," said Chief Judge Vera Yetti Magdalena at the Medan District Court as reported by ANTARA, Thursday, January 16.

The judge stated that the defendant Arjuna's actions, a resident of Marindal I Village, Patumbak District, Deli Serdang Regency, North Sumatra, had fulfilled the elements of narcotics crime as the first alternative indictment.

"The defendant was proven to have violated Article 114 paragraph (2) of Law Number 35 of 2009 concerning Narcotics," he explained.

According to the judge, the aggravating thing was the actions of the defendant Arjuna because he did not support the government's program in eradicating drugs.

In addition, the defendant Arjuna is a recidivist of the same case. "While mitigating factors were not found," said Judge Vera.

After reading the verdict, Chief Judge Vera Yetti Magdalena gave the defendant and the Public Prosecutor (Jaksa Penuntut) of the Medan Kejari to state whether to appeal or accept this verdict.

The verdict was lighter than the demands of the Medan Attorney General's Office, Septian Napitupulu, who previously charged the defendant Arjuna with the death penalty.

Public Prosecutor Septian in his indictment stated that the defendant Arjuna was arrested on April 13, 2024 at De Prima Apartment, Jalan Gelas, Sei Putih Tengah Village, Medan Petisah, Medan City.

The defendant Arjuna was arrested after the Medan Polrestabes Narcotics Unit received public information on the presence of narcotics in the apartment.

"Officers then conducted an investigation at the location, and saw the defendant Arjuna carrying a laptop bag in the parking lot of De Prima Apartment," he said.

Subsequently, officers searched and found as many as 20 plastic bags of Chinese tea containing methamphetamine in the laptop bag of the defendant Arjuna.

When interrogated by officers, the defendant Arjuna admitted that he still kept narcotics in the apartment room.

The police then found as many as four plastic bags of Chinese tea methamphetamine in the defendant's cupboard.

The confession of the defendant Arjuna, methamphetamine belonged to a person named Wawan (the investigator), and ordered him to bring the illicit goods to Palembang City, South Sumatra.

"After being arrested, Arjuna and shabu weighing 23.8 kilograms were taken to the Medan Police Narcotics Unit Office for further legal proceedings," said Septian Napitupulu.