North Sumatra Prosecutor's Office Demands 3 Years In Prison For Orangutan Trade Defendant

The Public Prosecutor of the North Sumatra High Prosecutor's Office, Febrina Sebayang (left) read out the memorandum of demand at the Medan District Court, North Sumatra, Tuesday (30/1/2024). (M. Sahbainy Nasution)

The Public Prosecutor of the North Sumatra High Prosecutor's Office charged the defendant Ramadhani alias Dani (37) with three years in prison in a trading case of two orangutan children or abelii pongo.

"In addition, the defendant Ramadhani was also subject to a fine of Rp. 50 million, subsidiary to six months in prison," said North Sumatra Attorney General Febrina Sebayang at the Medan District Court as reported by ANTARA, Tuesday, January 30.

Febrina said, in the same case, the defendant Reza Heryadi alias Ica was charged with two years in prison with a fine of Rp. 50 million, subsidiary to six months in prison.

"Two defendants violated Article 40 paragraph (2) in conjunction with Article 21 paragraph (2) letter a of Law No. 05 of 1990 concerning Conservation of Biological Natural Resources and their Ecosystems in conjunction with Article 55 (1) to 1 of the Criminal Code," said Febrina.

Two defendants were believed by the prosecutor to be the ones who committed or participated in committing a criminal act, namely that everyone was prohibited from arresting, injuring, killing, storing, possessing, maintaining, transporting and trading protected animals alive, which the defendant carried orangutans.

The aggravating thing is that the actions of the two defendants do not support the government's program in preserving rare animals and the plant and animal ecosystem.

"Especially Ramadhani, because the punishment was heavier, he was convicted of the same case by bringing the birds of step, while Reza was the first," said Febrina.

While mitigating things, he said the two defendants admitted their guilt in committing a criminal act of being involved in the trade of endangered animals.

"Determining that the evidence of two orangutans alive is confiscated for the state so that they are released into their habitat by being handed over to the Natural Resources Conservation Center (BKSDA) and one car unit was confiscated by the state," said Febrina.

Meanwhile, the defendants Reza and Ramadhani in the trial admitted their guilt and promised not to repeat the act.

"We ask the judge to lighten the verdict," said Reza.

After hearing the prosecutor's note and the defendant's statement, the panel of judges chaired by Khamozaro Waruwu continued the trial on February 13, 2024 with the agenda of the verdict.

The indictment revealed that on September 26, 2023, officers from the North Sumatra Police Ditreskrimsus received information about the activity of transporting protected animals alive in the form of orangutans (Pongo abelii) from Langsa City, Aceh Province to Medan City, North Sumatra.

Police personnel together with the North Sumatra BKSD arrested the defendant on Jalan Sisingamangaraja, Medan who was carrying two orangutan children alive.

Meanwhile, the defendant Reza explained that those who ordered to bring the rare animal were from Ramadhani with a salary of Rp. 3 million.

From the results of the interrogation, police officers arrested the defendant Ramadhani in Langsa City, Aceh along with evidence.