Prosecutors Appeal Sentences For Life 3 151 Kg Marijuana Couriers In Medan

Public Prosecutor Of The Medan Prosecutor's Office Sofyan Agung Maulana when reading out the death charges against the three defendants who were couriers of 151 kilograms of marijuana

The Public Prosecutor (JPU) of the Medan District Attorney (Kejari), North Sumatra, has appealed against the decision of the Medan District Court (PN) judges who sentenced three defendants to life imprisonment for marijuana-type narcotics couriers weighing 151 kilograms.

"On the life sentence, we are filing an appeal," said the Public Prosecutor of the Medan Kejari, Sofyan Agung Maulana, in Medan, Antara, Sunday, October 19.

The Head of Substances for Pre Prosecution (Kasubsi Pratut) for General Crimes at the Medan Kejari explained that the appeal was carried out because the judge's decision was deemed not in accordance with the prosecutor's demands.

Previously, we charged the three defendants each with the death penalty. Therefore, we will immediately register an appeal to the Medan High Court through the Medan District Court, "he said.

Sofyan emphasized that the death penalty charges were filed because the elements of the article were considered fulfilled, the amount of evidence was very large, as well as the role of the defendants who were active as couriers.

"We consider the impact of the defendants' actions to be very serious towards the community," he said.

The three defendants in question are Sapiy bin Jaliban (32), Riki Supandi bin Suwardi (32), and Jos Pratama bin Suryadi (26), all three are residents of Southeast Aceh Regency, Aceh Province. They were found guilty of violating Article 114 paragraph (2) in conjunction with Article 132 paragraph (1) of Law Number 35 of 2009 concerning Narcotics.

The panel of judges at the Medan District Court chaired by Cipto Hosari Nababan previously agreed with the prosecutor that the defendants were found guilty. However, the panel of judges decided to sentence him to life imprisonment, not the death penalty as demanded by the prosecutor.

"Sentenced the three defendants each to life imprisonment," said Cipto when reading the verdict in the Cakra V courtroom, Medan District Court, Thursday (16/10/2025).

In the verdict, the panel of judges assessed that the actions of the defendants had disturbed the public and did not support the government's program in eradicating narcotics.

In addition, the judge said that their actions also added to the long list of illicit drug trafficking, especially in the city of Medan.

"The defendants have even been drug couriers more than once, while mitigating matters have not been found," said Judge Cipto.