Commission III of the DPR is grateful that Fandi Ramadhan was not sentenced to death, saying that the judge was implementing the new Criminal Code

The DPR building in Jakarta. (Dino Januarsa-Unsplash)

JAKARTA - The Chairman of Commission III of the DPR, Habiburokhman, welcomed the decision of the Batam District Court, Riau Islands, which sentenced the defendant to 5 years in prison for a case of nearly 2 tons of narcotics, Fandi Ramadhan. According to him, the decision is in line with the implementation of the new Criminal Code.

"Regarding the 5-year sentence to Fandi Ramadhan, first we are grateful that the panel of judges did not impose the death penalty on Fandi Ramadhan as demanded by the Public Prosecutor," Habiburokhman told reporters, Friday, March 6.

He assessed that the judge understood that under the new Article 98 of the Criminal Code, the death penalty was not a basic sentence and was the last alternative that must be applied very selectively.

"The judge also seems to be very familiar with the paradigm of imprisonment in the new Criminal Code, which emphasizes substantive and rehabilitative justice," he said.

Habiburokhman respects the attitude of the defendant and his lawyer to fight for Fandi Ramadhan's release because he considers Fandi to be innocent. "However, we, Commission III, cannot intervene technically in the judicial proceedings," he said.

Even so, Habiburokhman ensured that Commission III of the DPR would still call the investigators and prosecutors in this case to question the fulfillment of the rights of the suspects or convicts.

"Since the case first started until yesterday's verdict," he concluded.

Previously, the Batam District Court, Riau Islands, sentenced the defendant to 5 years in prison for a narcotics case weighing almost 2 tons, ABK Fandi Ramadhan. The verdict was read directly by the Chief Judge, Tiwik, in a trial that took place in full mourning, Thursday, March 5.

In his ruling, Judge Tiwik stated that the defendant was proven to have legally and convincingly violated the law in accordance with the primary indictment of the Public Prosecutor (JPU).

"It is stated that the defendant Fandi Ramadhan has been proven to be legally and convincingly guilty of committing the crime of evil collusion without rights or against the law to be an intermediary in the sale and purchase of narcotics of the first group of plants weighing more than 5 grams," said Judge Tiwik when reading the verdict in the courtroom.

For his actions, the panel of judges sentenced him to five years in prison.

"Therefore, the defendant Fandi Ramadhan is sentenced to 5 years in prison," continued Judge Tiwik.