Not Ready For Security, Batam District Court Cancels Trial Of Narcotics Case 11 Former Members Of The Barelang Police

The Batam District Attorney's detention vehicle parked in front of the Batam District Court after delivering prisoners, in the Riau Islands, Wednesday (22/1/2025). (ANTARA/Laily Rahmawaty)

The Batam District Court (PN), Riau Islands, canceled its trial of a drug case involving 11 former members of the Narcotics Unit of the Barelang Police, Wednesday today.

"There was a notification from the Batam Kejari that informed the court that the court could not hold a trial today, because coordination with the Regional Police had not yet been completed regarding the security of the trial," said Batam District Court spokesman Welly Irdianto in Batam, quoted from Antara, Wednesday, January 22.

The Batam District Court informed that the inaugural trial for reading the indictment was scheduled for February 4. However, the information was updated that the trial was held on Wednesday today. But until this news was revealed, the trial had not yet been held and the defendants had not yet been presented in court.

According to Welly, the postponement was due to reasons from the Batam Kejari who were not ready regarding the coordination of securing the trial of the defendants.

"The Prosecutor's Head of the Prosecutor's Office informed that there was a new determination (schedule of trial) because they did not finish coordinating with the regional police regarding security," he said.

Information related to today's trial schedule was also obtained by the lawyers of the defendants.

The Head of the Lawyers Team 6 of the 10 former members of the Narcotics Unit of the Barelang Police, Indra Sakti, confirmed that the trial was canceled today without clear information.

"We have come to the court, the information from the SIPP court officer has been postponed, we don't know the clear reason, which is certain that until now we are still waiting," said Indra.

Indra said his six clients were Bripka Alex Chandra, Iptu Sigit Sarwoedi, Brigadi Ibnu Ma'ruf, Bripka Rahmadi, Ipda Fadilah, and Bripka Junaedi Gunawan.

According to him, his six clients were already civilians, after the decision to dismiss them was signed by the Head of the Riau Islands Police, Inspector General Pol. Yan Fitri Halimansyah.

"The status of our client is civil now, PTDH's Skep has been received earlier this year," said Indra.

In this case, there were a total of 12 defendants, eleven of whom were former members of the Narcotics Unit of the Barelang Police and a civilian. The former members of the Narcotics Unit of the Barelang Police were convicted of buying and selling 1 kg of methamphetamine.

Then, one suspect from the civilian Aziz Matua Siregar, acted as a courier.

The defendants were charged with Article 114 paragraph (2) in conjunction with Article 132 paragraph (1) or Article 112 paragraph (2) of Law Number 35 of 2009 concerning Drugs with the threat of the death penalty.