Batam Prosecutor: Death Penalty Demand for 2-Tonne Methamphetamine Defendants Complies with Law
Batam — The Head of Intelligence at the Batam District Prosecutor's Office in the Riau Islands, Priandi Firdaus, has stated that the death penalty demands against defendants who transported nearly two tonnes of methamphetamine using the vessel Sea Dragon are in accordance with prevailing legislation.
He emphasised that the handling of the case, from the investigation stage through prosecution to trial, was conducted in a professional, transparent and accountable manner.
"We affirm that the handling of this case has been carried out in accordance with Law Number 35 of 2009 on Narcotics and the Criminal Procedure Code," Priandi said in a statement confirmed in Batam on Saturday.
In this case, public prosecutors have demanded the death penalty for six defendants. The six comprise two Thai nationals — Weerepat Phongwan, alias Mr Pong, and Teerapong Lekpradube — along with four Indonesian citizens: Fandi Ramadhan, Richard Halomoan, Leo Candra Samosir and Hasiholan Samosir.
The charges brought are primarily under Article 114 paragraph (2) in conjunction with Article 132 paragraph (1) of Law Number 35 of 2009 on Narcotics, with a subsidiary charge under Article 112 paragraph (2) in conjunction with Article 132 paragraph (1) of the same law.
Based on the facts proven at trial, prosecutors charged the defendants under the primary indictment, namely Article 114 paragraph (2) in conjunction with Article 132 paragraph (2).
"The demands against all defendants are in line with instructions from the leadership hierarchy," he said.
The Batam District Prosecutor's Office has also taken note of defence efforts mounted by the family of one of the defendants. However, the verdict rests entirely with the panel of judges.
"We uphold the presumption of innocence. The prosecution does not simply conclude a person's guilt before there is a legally binding court verdict," Priandi said.
According to the investigation findings presented at trial, defendant Fandi Ramadhan and three other Indonesian defendants departed from Medan to Thailand on 1 May 2025 aboard an AirAsia flight.
Upon arriving in Thailand, the four Medan-based defendants met with the two Thai defendants. On 13 May, the defendants set off by speedboat from the Surakhon River towards the Sea Dragon, which was anchored in open waters.
On 14 May 2025, Fandi received payment before departing to collect the evidence — 67 cardboard boxes containing 1,995,130 grammes of methamphetamine (nearly two tonnes) — amounting to Rp8,244,250. The money was transferred by Daniel Hotman Sumanung, with proof of transfer attached to the case file.
The six defendants then sailed towards Phuket following coordinates provided by a figure known as Mr Tan, alias Jacky. Mr Tan also informed them that the cargo being transported was not oil.
On 18 May, the Sea Dragon passed Phuket. In the early hours, defendant Weerepat Phongwan gave a light signal. A Thai-flagged fishing vessel with four crew members then pulled alongside the Sea Dragon and handed over 67 cardboard boxes containing methamphetamine.
The six defendants received the boxes without inspecting their contents, passing them along in relay fashion and storing them aboard the Sea Dragon — 31 boxes were placed in cargo storage at the bow, whilst 36 boxes were hidden in the fuel tank compartment below deck.
"The defendants, as crew members, did not refuse to receive these boxes in the middle of the sea rather than at a proper dock," Priandi noted.
According to trial evidence, the Thai-flagged vessel then set sail ostensibly towards the Philippines. However, en route, the ship's flag was removed and not replaced. Fandi was tasked by the ship's captain with removing the flag.
On 21 May 2025, a joint patrol team from the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) and Customs became suspicious of the vessel as it passed near Karimun waters. They conducted an inspection of the ship's documentation, which stated the vessel was carrying oil. However, the crew could not explain why the cargo consisted not of oil but of 67 boxes.
Upon searching the vessel, officers found that the 67 boxes aboard the Sea Dragon contained 2,000 plastic packages bearing the Guanyinwang green Chinese tea brand label, filled with crystalline powder with a net weight of 1,995,130 grammes. Narcotics testing confirmed the substance was positive for methamphetamine.
The case is currently in the evidentiary stage at trial. On Monday 23 February, proceedings are set to continue at the Batam District Court with the defendants' defence submissions on the agenda.
He emphasised that the handling of the case, from the investigation stage through prosecution to trial, was conducted in a professional, transparent and accountable manner.
"We affirm that the handling of this case has been carried out in accordance with Law Number 35 of 2009 on Narcotics and the Criminal Procedure Code," Priandi said in a statement confirmed in Batam on Saturday.
In this case, public prosecutors have demanded the death penalty for six defendants. The six comprise two Thai nationals — Weerepat Phongwan, alias Mr Pong, and Teerapong Lekpradube — along with four Indonesian citizens: Fandi Ramadhan, Richard Halomoan, Leo Candra Samosir and Hasiholan Samosir.
The charges brought are primarily under Article 114 paragraph (2) in conjunction with Article 132 paragraph (1) of Law Number 35 of 2009 on Narcotics, with a subsidiary charge under Article 112 paragraph (2) in conjunction with Article 132 paragraph (1) of the same law.
Based on the facts proven at trial, prosecutors charged the defendants under the primary indictment, namely Article 114 paragraph (2) in conjunction with Article 132 paragraph (2).
"The demands against all defendants are in line with instructions from the leadership hierarchy," he said.
The Batam District Prosecutor's Office has also taken note of defence efforts mounted by the family of one of the defendants. However, the verdict rests entirely with the panel of judges.
"We uphold the presumption of innocence. The prosecution does not simply conclude a person's guilt before there is a legally binding court verdict," Priandi said.
According to the investigation findings presented at trial, defendant Fandi Ramadhan and three other Indonesian defendants departed from Medan to Thailand on 1 May 2025 aboard an AirAsia flight.
Upon arriving in Thailand, the four Medan-based defendants met with the two Thai defendants. On 13 May, the defendants set off by speedboat from the Surakhon River towards the Sea Dragon, which was anchored in open waters.
On 14 May 2025, Fandi received payment before departing to collect the evidence — 67 cardboard boxes containing 1,995,130 grammes of methamphetamine (nearly two tonnes) — amounting to Rp8,244,250. The money was transferred by Daniel Hotman Sumanung, with proof of transfer attached to the case file.
The six defendants then sailed towards Phuket following coordinates provided by a figure known as Mr Tan, alias Jacky. Mr Tan also informed them that the cargo being transported was not oil.
On 18 May, the Sea Dragon passed Phuket. In the early hours, defendant Weerepat Phongwan gave a light signal. A Thai-flagged fishing vessel with four crew members then pulled alongside the Sea Dragon and handed over 67 cardboard boxes containing methamphetamine.
The six defendants received the boxes without inspecting their contents, passing them along in relay fashion and storing them aboard the Sea Dragon — 31 boxes were placed in cargo storage at the bow, whilst 36 boxes were hidden in the fuel tank compartment below deck.
"The defendants, as crew members, did not refuse to receive these boxes in the middle of the sea rather than at a proper dock," Priandi noted.
According to trial evidence, the Thai-flagged vessel then set sail ostensibly towards the Philippines. However, en route, the ship's flag was removed and not replaced. Fandi was tasked by the ship's captain with removing the flag.
On 21 May 2025, a joint patrol team from the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) and Customs became suspicious of the vessel as it passed near Karimun waters. They conducted an inspection of the ship's documentation, which stated the vessel was carrying oil. However, the crew could not explain why the cargo consisted not of oil but of 67 boxes.
Upon searching the vessel, officers found that the 67 boxes aboard the Sea Dragon contained 2,000 plastic packages bearing the Guanyinwang green Chinese tea brand label, filled with crystalline powder with a net weight of 1,995,130 grammes. Narcotics testing confirmed the substance was positive for methamphetamine.
The case is currently in the evidentiary stage at trial. On Monday 23 February, proceedings are set to continue at the Batam District Court with the defendants' defence submissions on the agenda.