ABK Fandi Faces Verdict Hearing in Batam Over Drug Smuggling Today

ABK Fandi Ramadhan, a crew member on the Sea Dragon, is due to undergo a verdict hearing at Batam District Court, Riau Islands, on Thursday 5 March as the case involving the tanker Sea Dragon allegedly smuggling nearly two tonnes of methamphetamine unfolds into a new phase. Nirwana, Fandi’s mother, who has cared for her son since birth, says she fears facing a verdict that does not meet her expectations. ‘As a parent, I fear the reality of an outcome we do not hope for. I am afraid of the verdict,’ she told CNN Indonesia during an interview from Batam on the evening of Wednesday 4 March. She explained that Fandi, the eldest child of the family, has long been their hope and pillar, and she prays for the best for him. She hopes her son can be freed from the death penalty, arguing that he did not know about the narcotics on board and that his contract initially did not involve work on the related vessel. Nirwana added that Fandi only learned of the drugs after the Sea Dragon was intercepted by a joint team from the National Narcotics Agency (BNN), Customs and Excise, and the Indonesian Navy in waters off Karimun, Kepri, on 21 May 2025. ‘He knows how heavy our family’s struggle is; it would be impossible for him to betray us. I beg the prosecutors, the honourable judges, please help my son. If he is not guilty, free him. If he is guilty, I will accept it,’ she said tearfully. If the court finds him guilty and sentences him to death, the family will appeal through their legal counsel. They will continue to fight for their son, whom they claim is not guilty. The mother also appealed to President Prabowo and the Chairman of the DPR’s III Commission for assistance in securing his release. ‘We will appeal; we will continue to fight for our son’s freedom,’ she said. Previously, Fandi and several other crew members faced charges in a drug-smuggling case involving nearly two tonnes of methamphetamine transported on the Sea Dragon. In the primary indictment, the Public Prosecutor stated that the drug trafficking was conducted by Fandi alongside Hasiholan Samosir, Leo Chandra Samosir, Richard Halomoan Tambunan, Teerapong Lekpradub, and Weerapat Phongwan alias Mr Phong. The prosecutions of each defendant were pursued separately. Another suspect, Mr Tan alias Jacky Tan, is listed as a Wanted Person (DPO). Fandi reportedly joined the Sea Dragon only a few days earlier after applying for work; he claims not to have known the vessel carried narcotics, and the initial contract did not involve such work. The case drew national attention, prompting the DPR to hold a Public Hearing (RDPU) with Fandi’s family. Habiburokhman, chair of the DPR’s III Commission, said the summons were to scrutinize case number 863/Pid.Sus/2025/PN Btm currently proceeding at Batam District Court. ‘The III Commission will summon BNN investigators and the Batam State Prosecutor to provide a clarifying explanation regarding the case,’ he said during an audience with Fandi’s parents at the parliamentary complex in Jakarta on Thursday 26 February. The Commission also asked the Deputy Attorney General for Supervision (Jamwas) to admonish the Batam State Prosecutor for discussing perceived DPR interference. ‘The III Commission asks Jamwas to admonish and examine the Batam State Prosecutor in case number 803/Pid.Sus/2025/PN Btm under the name Muhammad Arfian, so as to be careful in making public statements,’ he added. Habib rejected claims of interference, saying the Commission has a duty to ensure law enforcement bodies operate within the law. Earlier, in Batam, Prosecutor Muhammad Arfian, in a repliek (rebuttal) session, urged the panel to decide the case solely on the facts presented in court, not because of any external interference. ‘For public figures, celebrities, parliamentarians or anyone else, let us not interfere with the administration of justice,’ he said. The Judicial Ethics Council (KY) said it would monitor the proceedings as requested by the DPR. ‘The KY is ready to supervise the handling of case numbers 12/Pid.B/2026/PN Mtr and 863/Pid.Sus/2026/PN Btm in accordance with the applicable laws,’ Desmihardi, Deputy Chair of KY, told Antara. He added that KY would deploy monitoring teams to oversee the two cases.