Attorney General's Office Refutes Medan Crew Member's Claim of Ignorance Over 2-Tonne Methamphetamine Cargo
The Attorney General’s Office (Kejagung) has revealed the reasoning behind public prosecutors’ decision to seek the death penalty against crew member Fandi Ramadhan (26), from Medan, North Sumatra, in connection with the smuggling of 1,995,130 grams — approximately two tonnes — of methamphetamine. The demand is based on evidence demonstrating the active involvement and full awareness of the defendants, including Fandi, in the case.
“Naturally, the public prosecutors base their prosecution on legal facts and evidence presented during the trial,” said Kejagung’s Head of the Legal Information Centre, Anang Supriatna, speaking to journalists at the Attorney General’s complex in South Jakarta on Friday (20 February 2026).
Anang rejected the narrative that Fandi, as a crew member, knew nothing about the cargo. Based on the legal facts that emerged, Fandi and his colleagues were aware that the cargo they collected at sea was not oil or legal goods, but narcotics.
“The defendants were aware and knew, including the crew member, that the goods were narcotics, and these were stored partly in the bow of the vessel and partly concealed near the engine room,” Anang said.
Fandi, Anang continued, was also involved in the process of transferring 67 large packages of methamphetamine from the vessel Sea Dragon, and received payment for his role.
“Based on the trial evidence, they received payment of Rp 8.2 million,” he added.
Regarding the defence’s claim that Fandi had only been working for three days, Anang dismissed this. He stated that the defendants’ period of involvement was considerably longer.
“Regarding the claim of working for three days, that is not true. They departed around 14 May and were apprehended on 21 May, so it was quite a long period,” Anang explained.
According to Anang, Fandi had the capacity to refuse to engage in unlawful conduct. In this regard, the prosecutors found no element of coercion in Fandi’s involvement.
The job had been offered by his uncle, who was the vessel’s captain. The execution of duties in the field was carried out with full awareness for the purpose of material gain.
“There was no element of coercion; it was done with full awareness. He was offered work on the vessel. But once aboard, he knew the vessel was not carrying oil but something else,” Anang added.
Consequently, prosecutors assessed that there were no mitigating circumstances for the defendants, given the extraordinary scale of the crime. Moreover, the narcotics originated from an international network involving a staggering quantity.
“This is the state’s commitment to protecting citizens from the dangers of narcotics. This is nearly two tonnes — it is no trifling matter. This involves cross-border activity, an international criminal syndicate. The state is committed to protecting citizens from the dangers of narcotics,” Anang stated.
Nevertheless, the Attorney General’s Office continues to respect the defendants’ legal rights. He invited Fandi to present his defence plea at the hearing scheduled for 23 February.
“We continue to uphold the presumption of innocence and exercise caution based on legal facts and evidence presented in court. The defendant and his legal counsel have the right to present their defence plea,” Anang said.
According to the Case Tracking Information System (SIPP) of the Batam District Court on Friday (20 February 2026), the trial commenced on 23 October 2025. Case number 863/Pid.Sus/2025/PN Btm continues to proceed through the courts.
In the indictment, prosecutors stated that the drug trafficking was carried out by Fandi together with Hasiholan Samosir, Leo Chandra Samosir, Richard Halomoan Tambunan, Teerapong Lekpradub, and Weerapat Phongwan alias Mr Pong. Meanwhile, another perpetrator, Mr Tan alias Jacky Tan, has been placed on the wanted persons list.