Criminal Experts Think Herry Wirawan's Death Sentence Is Too Much

Herry Wirawan/Antara Sidang trial

BANDUNG - The Bandung High Court judge granted the prosecutor's appeal against Herry Wirawan regarding the molestation case against 13 female students with a death sentence. This has received a response from criminal law experts.

One of them is a criminal law expert at Parahyangan University, Agustinus Pohan. He considered that the verdict given to Herry Wirawan was too excessive.

"The death penalty is excessive, I don't agree with it, even so it's the judge's verdict, so we must respect it," Agustinus said when contacted by VOI, Monday, April 4.

"It is legally possible, but for me the death penalty is excessive, in my opinion a life sentence is appropriate," he added.

He compared it with drug cases in Indonesia. According to him, although many drug dealers have been sentenced to death, the crime still exists today.

"How many drug dealers have been executed. Will the narcotics trade end? It's still there, isn't it. So for me, the life sentence has the same impact," he explained.

Previously reported, the Court Judge sentenced Herry Wirawan to death. After granting the appeal from the prosecutor regarding the molestation case against 13 female students.

“Receiving appeal requests from prosecutors/public prosecutors. Sentence the defendant therefore with the death penalty," said the judge at PT Bandung, chaired by the Head of the Bandung High Court, Herri Swantoro, Monday, April 4.

The reading of the verdict was decided in an open court today. The judge in his decision also corrected the Bandung District Court's decision which previously sentenced Herry Wirawan to a life sentence.

As for this case, Herry was still sentenced according to Article 21 of the Criminal Procedure Code jis Article 27 of the Criminal Procedure Code jis Article 153 paragraph (3) of the Criminal Procedure Code jis paragraph (4) of the Criminal Procedure Code jis Article 193 of the Criminal Procedure Code jis Article 222 paragraph (1) jis paragraph (2) of the Criminal Procedure Code jis Article 241 of the Criminal Procedure Code jis Article 242 of the Criminal Procedure Code, PP Number 27 of 1983, Article 81 paragraph (1), paragraph (3) in conjunction with Article 76.D of Law RI Number 17 of 2016 concerning Amendments to Law Number 23 of 2002 concerning Child Protection in conjunction with Article 65 paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code and other relevant provisions