Throughout 2021, 68 Defendants In Narcotics And Murder Cases In Aceh Are Demanded The Death Penalty

Head of the Aceh High Prosecutor's Office Muhammad Yusuf. ANTARA/M Haris SA

ACEH - The Aceh High Prosecutor's Office stated that as many as 68 defendants in narcotics and murder cases were required to be sentenced to death in this province throughout 2021.

Head of the Aceh Attorney General's Office, Muhammad Yusuf, in Banda Aceh, Tuesday, January 4, said that of the 68 defendants charged with the death penalty, 64 of them were involved in drug cases. The other four defendants are in the murder case.

"The defendant in the drug or narcotics case in Aceh is very dominant. Meanwhile, the evidence that was confiscated reached 1.2 tons of methamphetamine", said Muhammad Yusuf as quoted by Antara.

According to Muhammad Yusuf, the number of defendants demanding the death penalty has increased compared to 2020. In 2020, the number of defendants charged with the death penalty is 62 people.

Muhammad Yusuf said that the majority of the 68 defendants who were required to be sentenced to death had already been decided by the panel of judges in court. However, all of the cases do not have permanent legal force or Inkrah.

"Of all the defendants, not all were sentenced to death. There were also sentenced to life, 20 years in prison, and others. However, all cases have not been resolved", he also said.

Muhammad Yusuf said that the cases for which the defendant was required to be sentenced to death had not yet been completed, because the legal process was still ongoing.

Because, said Muhammad Yusuf, the legal process of the case is still ongoing at the appeal level in the high court and cassation at the Supreme Court, both submitted by the defendant and the public prosecutor.

"As for the execution of the death penalty, so far it has not been carried out. For the death penalty, the public prosecutor must wait for instructions from the Attorney General as the leader", said Muhammad Yusuf.