BATAM - The Batam District Court (PN) in Riau Islands (Kepri) sentenced three crew members (ABK) of the Sea Dragon Terawa in the case of smuggling narcotics of methamphetamine weighing almost 2 tons.
The Chairman of the Batam District Court's Panel of Judges, Tiwik, read out the criminal sentence against the three ABK in absentia on Monday, March 9, 2026, after the other three were sentenced last week.
Tiwik in his decision stated that Richard Halomoan Tambunan, the ship's chief officer, was proven to be legally and convincingly guilty of committing the crime of conspiracy without right or against the law.
The defendant became an intermediary in the sale and purchase of narcotics of Group I non-plant with a weight exceeding 5 grams as in the public prosecutor's primary indictment.
"Therefore, the defendant is sentenced to life imprisonment," said the panel of judges Tiwik in the Batam PN court room, Monday, March 9.
A similar verdict was also handed down to the ship's captain, Hasiholan Samosir.
The panel of judges stated that Hasiholan was found guilty of committing a conspiracy in the circulation of narcotics.
"Therefore, the defendant is sentenced to life imprisonment," the judge said in his ruling.
Meanwhile, the defendant Leo Candra Samosir, who served as the ship's steward, was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
"Therefore, the defendant is sentenced to 15 years in prison," the judge said.
The panel of judges said the sentence was lighter than the prosecutor's request for the Batam District Attorney's Office, which had previously demanded the death penalty for the six defendants in this case.
For information, the other three defendants, have been sentenced previously. On Thursday (5/3), Fandi Ramadhan was sentenced to five years in prison.
Meanwhile, Thai ABK Weerepat Phongwan was sentenced to life imprisonment, and Teerapong Lekpradube was sentenced to 17 years in prison on Friday (6/3).
In the decision, the panel of judges also considered the demands of the JPU, the defense of legal advisers, the testimony of witnesses and experts, and evidence.
The evidence in this case is 67 brown cardboard boxes wrapped in clear plastic. A total of 66 cardboard boxes each containing 30 packs of green-colored Chinese tea packaging, which contains one pack of methamphetamine.
Meanwhile, another cardboard containing 20 packs of green Chinese tea packaging plastic containing I-class narcotic crystal powder. The total net weight of evidence amounted to 1,995.139 grams or almost 2 tons.
The aggravating factor for the defendants is the amount of narcotics which almost reaches 2 tons and has the potential to damage the future of the nation's generation if it enters Indonesian territory, as well as the defendants' actions do not support the government's program in eradicating the illicit circulation of narcotics.
Meanwhile, the mitigating circumstances were only given to Leo Candra Samosir.
"What is relieving, the defendant was polite during the trial and is still young so it is hoped that he can improve his behavior later," said Tiwik.
In its decision, the panel of judges noted Article 114 paragraph (2) in conjunction with Article 132 paragraph (1) of Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 35 of 2009 concerning Narcotics, Law Number 8 of 1981 concerning the Criminal Procedure Code, and Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code.
After reading the verdict, the panel of judges invited the defendants together with their legal advisers and the JPU to express their attitudes.
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