The Batam District Court, in the Riau Islands, has handed a life\nsentence to crew member Weerapat Phongwan, a national of Thailand, of\nthe Sea Dragon Terawa, in the case of smuggling narcotics of the type\nsabu with a weight of nearly 2 tons.<\/p>\n
\u201cImposing a life sentence on the defendant Weerapat Phongwan,\u201d said\nChief Judge Tiwik of Batam District Court, on Friday (6\/3).<\/p>\n
In the decision, the panel of judges found the defendant Weerapat\nPhongwan legally and convincingly proven guilty of involvement in a\ncriminal conspiracy without right or against the law, and having acted\nas an intermediary in the sale and purchase of narcotics of group I not\nplants weighing more than 5 grams as alleged in the primary indictment\nby the public prosecutor.<\/p>\n
The verdict by the panel is lighter than the demand by the Public\nProsecutor of Batam District Attorney\u2019s Office who previously demanded\nthe death penalty for six defendants in the case.<\/p>\n
Earlier on Thursday (5\/3), the judges sentenced Fandi Ramadhan to\nfive years\u2019 imprisonment.<\/p>\n
The panel\u2019s decision considered the prosecution\u2019s demands as well as\nthe defence\u2019s arguments, testimony of witnesses and experts, and\nevidence in the form of 67 brown cartons wrapped in transparent\nplastic.<\/p>\n
Details: 66 cartons each containing 30 plastic-wrapped sachets of\ngreen Chinese tea, brand Guanyinwang, inside which there was one sachet\nof methamphetamine. Meanwhile, one other carton contains 20\nplastic-wrapped sachets of green Chinese tea packaging containing\ncrystalline methamphetamine.<\/p>\n
Total net weight of the evidence reached 1,995,139 grams, or almost 2\ntonnes.<\/p>\n
The aggravating factor is that the drug quantity nearly 2 tonnes;\nthere was concern that if near Indonesian territory it would severely\ndamage the nation\u2019s future generation; the defendant did not support the\ngovernment\u2019s program to combat illicit drug trafficking.<\/p>\n
In its decision, the panel considered Article 114(2) in conjunction\nwith Article 132(1) of Law Number 35 of 2009 on Narcotics.<\/p>\n
After reading the verdict, the panel invited the defendant, his\ncounsel and the Public Prosecutor to respond.<\/p>\n
In response to the verdict, the defendant\u2019s lawyer stated they would\nappeal.<\/p>\n
Then the Public Prosecutor said they are still considering their\nstance on the panel\u2019s decision.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/batam-district-court-sentences-thai-seaman-to-life-imprisonment-in-2-tonne-meth-case-1772805690", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }