2 Courier Carrying 22 Kg Of Sabu Sentenced To Life In Prison

Court of charges of 2 couriers carrying 22 kg of crystal methamphetamine in Palembang (Photo: Antara)

PALEMBANG - Two accused couriers of 22 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine were sentenced to life in prison. The two defendants will submit their defense.

The prosecutor read out the South Sumatra Prosecutor's Office, Imam Murtadho to the two defendants Sandi Ekowardo (28) and Sayadi (50) in separate files during the trial via teleconference at the Palembang Special Class IA District Court.

"Whereas the defendants were legally and convincingly proven to have committed a criminal act by offering to be traded or brokered the sale and purchase of methamphetamine-type narcotics weighing approximately 22 kilograms, thus demanding that the panel of judges impose life imprisonment on each defendant," Imam read out the demands quoted by Antara, Monday, August 10.

In the trial chaired by the Chief Judge Bongbongan Silaban, the prosecutor charged the two defendants Article 114 paragraph (2) in conjunction with Article 132 paragraph (1) of Law Number 35/2009 on Narcotics.

The two defendants submitted a plea or objection note to be read out in the next two weeks, Monday, August 24.

Meanwhile, the legal advisers of the two defendants from the Legal Aid Post (Posbankum) of the Palembang Triasa District Court, admitted that they objected to the charges because they only acted as shabu-shabu deliverers, not owners or dealers.

"The facts in the trial have been revealed that they only delivered, while those who have goods are still at large, it should be lighter," Triasa said after the trial.

Meanwhile, the two defendants were arrested by the South Sumatra Regional Police Department of Narcotics on Friday, February 28, 2020 when they were going to deliver the illegal goods from Jambi to someone in Palembang City.

During the process of becoming couriers, both of them were ordered by Alam (DPO) who arranged for the delivery since five days before being arrested.

The two defendants and Alam initially formed a motorcade from Banyuasin Regency to deliver the 22 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, but the two defendants' cars were first stopped by the police on the side of Jalan HM Noerdin Panji Palembang. The police also obtained 22 kilograms of methamphetamine from the two defendants' car.

Meanwhile, Alam, who was behind, immediately turned the wheel and fled when the two defendants' car was stopped. However, when the police searched for Alam's whereabouts, the police only found the car he was driving in a shed with evidence of a cell phone that Alam had left.