Batam District Court Hears Defence Pleas of Defendants in 2-Tonne Methamphetamine Case

Batam (ANTARA) — The Batam District Court in the Riau Islands held defence plea hearings on Monday for six defendants charged with transporting nearly two tonnes of narcotics using the vessel Sea Dragon.

Batam District Court spokesman Vabienes Stuart Wattimena said the panel of judges heard the defence pleas read out in turn for all six defendants.

“Today the six defendants delivered their pledoi, or defence pleas, through their respective legal counsel. The hearing began at 15.30 Western Indonesian Time, was recessed for the breaking of the fast, and resumed at 19.30 until 20.47,” Wattimena said.

He noted that the hearing was presided over by a panel of judges chaired by Tiwik, with Douglas R.P. Napitupulu and Randi Jastian Afandi serving as member judges.

“Following the defence pleas, the next hearing will be the prosecution’s response to the defendants’ pledoi — the reply and rejoinder. After that, law enforcement will respond to the prosecution, and then the panel of judges will be given the opportunity to adjourn to deliberate and prepare their verdict,” Wattimena said.

The first defence pleas were delivered by two Thai nationals, Teerapong Lekpradube and Weerepat Phongwan. They were followed by Fandi Ramadhan and three other crew members — Richard Halomoan, Leo Candra Samosir, and Hasiholan Samosir.

In their pledoi, read out by their legal counsel, the two foreign nationals argued that the defendants did not satisfy the element of criminal intent (mens rea) and had no involvement in nor intention to possess or control the narcotics.

The defendants asked the panel of judges to consider imposing the fairest possible sentence.

Defendant Fandi Ramadhan also delivered his defence, stating that he had no knowledge whatsoever of the cargo that was transferred at sea rather than at a port.

Fandi also revealed his background, describing how he came from a poor family as the son of a fisherman who wished to change his family’s circumstances by studying maritime navigation in the hope of working on ships to earn an honest living.

The 25-year-old said he had neither the authority, the power, nor the standing to question the captain about why the cargo was being transferred at sea or what it contained.

“If that question from the prosecutor means I must face a death sentence, then give me the time to explain myself,” he said.

After the defence pleas were read, the panel of judges adjourned the hearing to Wednesday (25 February), when the prosecution’s response is scheduled to be heard.