Courier 3.8 Grams Of Shabu Sentenced To 9 Years In Prison At Medan District Court

Chief Judge Happy Karfaka (right) read out the verdict at the Medan District Court, North Sumatra, Tuesday (29/8/2023). (ANTARA/M Sahbainy Nasution)

The panel of judges at the Medan District Court, North Sumatra, Tuesday sentenced the defendant Edo Kevin Ginting to nine years in prison from Karo Regency in a narcotics abuse case by being a shabu-shabu courier.

"The defendant Edo Kevin Ginting was sentenced to nine years. In addition, a fine of Rp. 1 billion, subsidiary to six months in prison," said Chief Judge Happy Karya when reading the verdict reported by ANTARA, Tuesday, August 29.

The panel of judges in the verdict stated that from the facts of the trial, the defendant Edo Kevin Ginting violated Article 114 paragraph (1) of the Republic of Indonesia Law Number 35 of 2009 concerning Narcotics.

The defendant was declared without rights or against the law offering to sell, sell, buy, accept, become an intermediary in buying and selling, exchanging, or handing over narcotics class I in the form of non-plants as many as six clear plastic packs containing 3.5 grams of methamphetamine.

"The aggravating thing is that the defendant does not support the government's program, which is actively eradicating drugs. As for mitigating matters, the defendant regretted his actions and admitted his mistakes," said Happy.

After reading the verdict, the panel of judges gave a week to the defendant's legal adviser, the defendant and the Public Prosecutor from the North Sumatra High Prosecutor's Office, Erning Kosasih, to think about it or appeal.

The judge's decision was one year lighter than the demands of the North Sumatra Prosecutor's Office, Erning Kosasih, who demanded that the defendant be sentenced to 10 years in prison, a fine of Rp. 1 billion, subsidiary to six months in prison.

The indictment stated that on Saturday, May 6, 2023, a police officer from the North Sumatra Police Narcotics Directorate conducted an investigation at a shop in Berastagi District, Karo Regency.

The police then saw someone suspected of buying and selling methamphetamine. The police buy methamphetamine in disguise.

The police then made arrests along with evidence. The defendant admitted that the illicit goods came from a man named Boy Sitepu (the investigation process) to be resold hoping for profit.