Commission III: Crew Member Facing Death Penalty in 2-Tonne Methamphetamine Case Not the Main Perpetrator
Commission III Chairman Habiburokhman has said that his committee received information indicating that Fandi Ramadhan (26), a crew member facing the death penalty in connection with the discovery of 1,995,130 grams — approximately 2 tonnes — of methamphetamine on a vessel in Batam waters, Riau Islands, is not the main perpetrator.
Commission III held a public hearing on Monday to discuss the death sentence demand against Fandi in the alleged methamphetamine smuggling case.
“We have received information that it is clear Fandi Ramadhan is not the main perpetrator,” Habiburokhman said at a press conference following the hearing at the Parliamentary Complex in Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Monday (23 February).
According to Habiburokhman, the commission is giving serious attention to the case as it concerns a person’s life. The death penalty demand against Fandi must be questioned, he said, as the defendant has no prior criminal record.
“He has no history of criminal offences, and he had attempted to warn others about the potential for criminal activity,” he said.
The Gerindra Party politician affirmed that the hearing’s conclusions would be conveyed to the Batam District Court, where Fandi’s trial is underway.
The hearing notably highlighted that under the new Criminal Code, the death penalty is not a principal sentence but rather an alternative that may only be imposed under strict conditions.
“We have conveyed the results of today’s hearing and they will be forwarded directly to the relevant parties, including the Batam District Court through the Supreme Court of the Republic of Indonesia,” Habiburokhman said.
Fandi was charged with the death penalty on 5 February following the discovery of approximately 2 tonnes of methamphetamine on the vessel where he worked.
In the primary indictment, prosecutors stated that the drug trafficking was carried out by Fandi together with several others, namely Hasiholan Samosir, Leo Chandra Samosir, Richard Halomoan Tambunan, Teerapong Lekpradub, and Weerapat Phongwan alias Mr Pong. Each defendant is being prosecuted separately.
Meanwhile, another suspect, Mr Tan alias Jacky Tan, remains on the wanted persons list.