The Supreme Court Suspended Ferdy Sambo's Sentence, Jokowi: Respect the Decision That’s Been Made

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) (Doc: State Secretariat)

JAKARTA - Indonesian President Joko Widodo respects the decision of the Supreme Court (MA) against the cassation request for the accused of the premeditated murder of Brigadier Yosua Hutabarat, Ferdy Sambo, to be sentenced to life imprisonment, from the previous death sentence.

"I respect the decision that’s been made. We must respect it," President Jokowi was quoted as saying by ANTARA, Thursday, August 10.

The President also asked the public to respect the Supreme Court's decision.

On the previous occasion, the Coordinating Minister for Politics, Law and Security (Menko Polhukam) Mahfud MD said the Supreme Court's decision on Ferdy Sambo's cassation request was final.

"In my opinion all considerations are complete and the cassation is final," said Mahfud MD at the Yogyakarta Islamic University (UII) campus, Sleman, Wednesday (9/8).

According to Mahfud, there are no other legal remedies that can be taken by the prosecutor's office or the government after the Supreme Court's decision to change Ferdy Sambo's sentence from death penalty to life imprisonment.

Mahfud explained that a judicial review (PK) could not be carried out by the prosecutor or the government regarding the criminal law and the cassation that was decided.

PK can only be submitted by the convict by attaching a novum or letter of evidence that has never been presented before at trial.

In line with that, the Head of the Legal and Public Relations Bureau of the Supreme Court (MA) RI Sobandi stated that the Supreme Court's decision granted the cassation of the accused of premeditated murder Brigadier Nofriansyah Yosua Hutabarat, Ferdy Sambo, who was indicted

Thus, the life imprisonment sentence against the former head of the Professional and Security Division of the National Police has permanent legal force.

As reported, the Supreme Court decided that the sentence for the accused for the premeditated murder of Brigadier Nofriansyah Yosua Hutabarat, Ferdy Sambo, was sentenced to life imprisonment from the previous death sentence.

The decision was made in a closed session with Suhadi as chairman of the assembly; Suharto as member of assembly 1, Jupriyadi as member of assembly 2, Desnayeti as member of assembly 3, and Yohanes Priyana as member of assembly 4.