Medan District Court Judge Sentenced To 16 Months In Prison For TIP Defendant To Malaysia

The defendant Heppy Christopel Pasaribu listened to the judge's decision in the Cakra VI courtroom, Medan District Court, Monday (20/1/2025). (ANTARA/Aris Rinaldi Nasution)

The panel of judges at the Medan District Court (PN), North Sumatra, sentenced Heppy Christopel Pasaribu (47) to 16 months in prison, charged with committing a criminal act of trafficking in persons (TPPO) to be sent to Malaysia.

"Sentenced the defendant Heppy Christopel Pasaribu to a prison sentence of one year and four months," said Chief Judge Firza Andriansyah, at the Medan District Court, Monday, January 20, as reported by ANTARA.

The judge stated that the defendant Heppy was a resident of Jalan Tanjung Permai Raya, Sunggal District, Deli Serdang Regency, North Sumatra, violating Article 81 of Law Number 18 of 2017 concerning the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers in conjunction with Article 84 of Law Number 6 of 2023 concerning Stipulation of Government Regulations in Lieu of Law Number 2 of 2022 concerning Job Creation into law.

In addition to imprisonment, the panel of judges also sentenced the defendant Heppy to pay a fine of Rp. 500 million on the condition that if the fine was not paid, it would be replaced with six months in prison.

According to the judge, the defendant Heppy's actions were burdensome because they were contrary to the government's program in eradicating TIP.

"Meanwhile, mitigating the defendant's actions was because he had never been convicted and was polite at trial," explained Judge Firza.

After reading the verdict, Chief Judge Firza Andriansyah gave the defendant and the Public Prosecutor (Public Prosecutor) of the North Sumatra Prosecutor's Office to express their attitude whether to appeal or accept this verdict.

The verdict was lighter than the demands of the North Sumatra Prosecutor's Office, Haslinda Hasan, previously charged the defendant Heppy with imprisonment of two years and six months and a fine of Rp. 500 million, subsidiary to three months in prison.

"The defendant is believed to have violated Article 2 paragraph (1) in conjunction with Article 10 in conjunction with Article 48 of Law Number 21 of 2007 concerning TIP, as the primary indictment," said Public Prosecutor Haslinda.

Public Prosecutor Haslinda in the indictment stated that the defendant Heppy was known as an agent for sending migrant workers illegally to Malaysia.

In carrying out his actions, he continued, the defendant Heppy promised workers to earn a salary of 1,500 Ringgit Malaysia per month with a discount on departure costs that must be paid for the first three months of work.

"However, on April 25, 2024, the defendant Heppy Christopel Pasaribu's actions were revealed, and North Sumatra Police officers arrested the defendant Heppy," said Public Prosecutor Haslinda.