The Latest News On The Semarang PIP Cadets Case, Five Perpetrators Were Charged With Molesting Their Juniors To Death

The trial of five Semarang PiP cadets who tortured their juniors to death at the Semarang District Court, Wednesday. ANTARA/IC Senjaya

SEMARANG - Five cadets of the Maritime Science Polytechnic (PIP) Semarang, Central Java, were charged with molesting junior cadet Zidan Muhammad Faza, to death at the educational institution.

The indictment was read out by the public prosecutor, Niam Firdaus, in a trial at the Semarang District Court, Wednesday, January 19, led by presiding judge Arkanu.

The trial which was held in a hybrid manner, the panel of judges, prosecutors, and legal counsel for the defendants were present at the Semarang District Court.

Meanwhile, the five defendants, namely Caecar Richardo Bintang Samudra Tampubolon, Aris Riyanto, Andre Arsprilla Arief, Albert Jonathan Ompusungu, and Budi Dharmawan, followed the online trial from the Semarang Penitentiary. In that case, the prosecutor charged the defendants with cumulative charges.

In the first indictment, the defendants were charged with molesting Faza to death.

Firdaus explained that the crime began when the defendant asked the class A cadets of class 55 PIP Semarang to come to the Indoraya mess located on Jalan Genuk Krajan, Semarang, on September 6, 2021.

Dozens of cadets, including Faza, came and followed a tradition known as physical coaching. "Junior cadets are asked to stand in a row in a U formation," he said.

The defendants then hit or kicked the juniors in the stomach.

He said, Faza fell down after the last blow was delivered by Tampubolon. Faza was rushed by his contemporaries to the Roemani Hospital in Semarang, before being declared dead.

"The post-mortem results from the hospital doctor stated that there were bruises on the victim's abdomen and chest," he said.

Meanwhile, in the second indictment, the defendants were charged with molesting dozens of junior tatunas who came to the Indoraya mess.

Firdaus explained that the physical development of the victims was not only in the form of blows, but also blows to the stomach which caused pain.

For their actions, the defendants were charged with Article 170 of the Criminal Code concerning persecution.

On the charges, Tampubolon, Ompusungu, and Dharmawan, will submit a response to the prosecutor's indictment. The next trial will be held again next week with the agenda of giving the three defendants the opportunity to provide their responses.