Attorney General's Office Explains Reasons for Seeking Death Penalty Against Crew Member in 2-Tonne Methamphetamine Ship Case

The Attorney General’s Office has spoken out regarding the death penalty demand for Fandi Ramadhan, a ship crew member from Medan, in the case involving the smuggling of two tonnes of methamphetamine.

Head of the Attorney General’s Legal Information Centre, Anang Supriatna, affirmed that the severity of the charges submitted by prosecutors to the panel of judges was based on legal facts and evidence that had been revealed in court.

He assured that the prosecution was not conducted arbitrarily. The entire judicial process, he said, had been carried out in accordance with applicable procedural law whilst upholding the presumption of innocence.

“On 5 February 2026, charges were brought against six defendants, each facing the death penalty. The public prosecutors naturally based their charges on the legal facts and evidence revealed during the trial,” he told journalists on Friday (20 February).

Anang explained that one of the considerations behind prosecutors seeking the maximum sentence was to protect the public from the dangers of narcotics.

He noted that the volume of evidence in the methamphetamine trafficking case reached two tonnes and involved an international narcotics syndicate.

“What matters to us — the state in this instance — is our commitment to protecting citizens from the dangers of narcotics. This is nearly two tonnes, which is no trifling matter, and it involves cross-border activity. This is an international criminal syndicate,” he said.

Anang also claimed that all defendants were aware and knew that the cargo loaded onto their vessel was not oil but illicit narcotics in the form of methamphetamine.

He stated that the defendant Fandi was also aware and had received payment of Rp8.2 million via bank transfer on 14 May for his services as a crew member aboard the ship carrying the two tonnes of methamphetamine.

“The defendants were aware and knew — including the crew member Fandi — that the goods were narcotics and that they were stored on board,” he explained.

“Some were stored in the bow of the ship, and some were hidden near the engine room. So he was aware and also received payment,” he added.

The family of Fandi had previously stated they could not accept the death penalty demanded by prosecutors.

They suspected Fandi was also a victim, as he allegedly knew nothing about the methamphetamine being smuggled via the vessel. The defendant had reportedly only recently begun working on the Thai-registered ship.

Sulaiman, 51, said his son Fandi had only graduated from a maritime academy in Aceh in 2022. He said Fandi had worked in Brandan, Langkat, but his earnings were insufficient.

Due to the family’s modest financial circumstances, Fandi sought employment on foreign vessels. He then received a job offer on a Thai ship.

Sulaiman said Fandi subsequently communicated with an agent and was instructed to prepare the necessary documents. Fandi also communicated with the ship’s captain, named Hasiholan Samosir, who was also arrested and became a defendant in the case.

Upon arriving in Thailand, Fandi contacted his mother. At that time, Fandi told her he had not yet started working on the ship and was staying at a hotel for approximately ten days. The captain later informed them they would be transporting an oil tanker.

Fandi and several others then travelled to the tanker by speedboat.

At sea, Sulaiman said, Fandi observed cargo being transferred onto the tanker they were to operate. Sulaiman said his son did not know precisely what the cargo was.

However, after the loading was completed, Fandi asked the ship’s captain to verify the contents of the cargo, fearing it might contain dangerous materials. Fandi was not satisfied with the captain’s response and remained suspicious.

“He told the captain he was suspicious and asked to inspect the items first, worried there might be a bomb inside,” Sulaiman explained.

The vessel then departed Thailand for Indonesia. Upon reaching the waters off Karimun, the ship carrying Fandi and several others was intercepted by the National Narcotics Agency and Customs. Upon inspection, methamphetamine was discovered on board.