Once The Attention Of The TNI Commander, Family Hopes Military Oditur To Appeal The Death Sentence Against 3 Killers Of Imam Masykur

The trial of the defendant in the murder case of Imam Masykur/ Photo: IST

JAKARTA - Three members of the TNI named Praka Riswandi Manik, Praka Heri Sandi and Praka Jasmowir were sentenced to life imprisonment and fired from the Military Service for the murder of an Acehnese youth named Imam Masykur at the Jakarta Military Court II-08, Monday, December 11. The three defendants continued to bow during the verdict trial.

The Panel of Judges Colonel Chk Rudi Dwi Prakamto decided that the three defendants had been found guilty in Article 340 of the Criminal Code junto Article 55 paragraph 1 of the 1st concerning premeditated murder together, and Article 328 of the Criminal Code junto Article 55 paragraph 1 1 of the Criminal Code concerning joint kidnapping.

The three defendants were sentenced to life imprisonment and an additional sentence was dishonorably dismissed from the TNI unit.

The verdict was handed down because the three defendants were already in the sadistic and inhumane category. Then the defendant's actions also violated the soldier's oath and tarnished the good name of the unity.

The agenda for the verdict hearing was also attended by the victim's family and their legal counsel.

The victim's family hopes that the Jakarta military oditur can appeal the life sentence into a death sentence.

The victim's family's legal team, Putra Safriza, said that his party had coordinated with the military oditur, and asked for the verdict handed down today, namely for life, to be appealed to the death penalty.

"Hopefully the answer to think first is the preparation of the appeal that will be carried out in a short time, for a maximum sentence of Article 340 of the Criminal Code, such as what was once the attention of the TNI Commander, namely the death penalty for the perpetrators," he told reporters.

This case began on August 12, 2023 and the victim's body was dumped at 01.00 WIB on August 13, 2023 in the Purwakarta area, West Java.

Imam Masykur's body was found by a 9-year-old child in the Citarum River. Imam's body was found caught in a hyacinth on the surface of the river which is about five meters deep.

The child reported to adults around the river, namely Perum Jasa Tirta who rested around the riverbank.

Imam Masykur's family reported the kidnapping and torture of Imam to the Polda Metro Jaya. The report from the family was based on the contents of the message, telephone, and video call from the victim and the perpetrators to the Imam Masykur's family during the torture and kidnapping.

The report was received by the police with the Number STTLP/B/4776/VIII/2023/SPKT. From the victim's family report to the police, the Military Police of Kodam Jaya started the legal process for the three TNI AD soldiers on August 14, 2023.