Commission III of the DPR Denies Interference in the Fandi Case: The Death Penalty Must Be Applied Selectively

Chairman of Commission III of the DPR, Habiburokhman, affirmed that his commission is not interfering in the case of smuggling 2 tons of methamphetamine in Batam, Riau Islands, with the defendant being a crew member, Fandi Ramadhan. Habiburokhman stated that the DPR has a duty to carry out oversight.

“In carrying out the oversight duties mandated by Article 20A paragraph 1 of the 1945 Constitution, Commission III of the DPR not only assesses the implementation of policies in general, but also responds to cases that touch on the public’s sense of justice,” said Habiburokhman in a public hearing with Fandi’s family and legal counsel at the parliament complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Thursday (26/2/2026).

“Commission III clearly does not intervene technically in cases that are being handled by law enforcement officials,” he added.

He said that his commission is obliged to ensure that the implementation of duties by law enforcement officials, who are partners of Commission III of the DPR, is in accordance with applicable regulations. He requested that the Deputy Attorney General for Supervision reprimand the public prosecutor at the Batam District Court.

“We ask the Deputy Attorney General for Supervision to reprimand the public prosecutor, Muhammad Arfian, at the Batam District Court yesterday, who implicitly but very clearly stated that the public and the DPR were interfering in the case of the death penalty for Fandi Ramadan,” he said.

Habiburokhman emphasized that it is not only the DPR as the legislative body and supervisor of law enforcement that can express its views on the judicial process. However, he said that the public also has the right to express their views, including through amicus curiae or friend of the court.

“This is an implementation of what is regulated in Article 5 paragraph 1 of Law Number 48 of 2009 concerning Judicial Power, which stipulates that judges are obliged to explore the sense of justice in society, and what, besides assessing the facts of the trial,” he said.

Furthermore, Habiburokhman appreciated the responsiveness of the National Police Chief, General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, and the Attorney General, ST Burhanuddin, to various attitudes and inputs from his commission.

Habiburokhman cited several cases that were later stopped after becoming public attention, including the case of honorary teachers in Muaro Jambi, the pursuit of a thief in Sleman, honorary teachers in Probolinggo, and a motorcycle taxi driver in Pandeglang, Banten.

“We appreciate our partners, namely Attorney General ST Burhanuddin and National Police Chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo, who have been very responsive to the attitude of Commission III,” he said.

Regarding the Fandi Ramadan case, Habiburokhman reiterated that the death penalty is an alternative punishment in the new Criminal Code. He said that the death penalty should be carried out very selectively.

“For the case of Fandi Ramadan, we reiterate that the death penalty is an alternative punishment as a last resort that should be applied very selectively as stipulated in the Criminal Code,” he explained.

“We repeat that we are not interfering with the court, but we must be accountable to the people that the allocation of state budget that we approved for the Supreme Court and its subordinates must bring about improved performance,” he added.

He also mentioned that Commission III has proposed an increase in the salaries of career and ad hoc judges by up to 280%. In addition, Commission III of the DPR is currently discussing a bill on the position of judges.

“Some time ago, we also proposed an increase in the salaries of career and ad hoc judges, which could reach 280%, and currently we are discussing a bill on the position of judges, which essentially aims to improve the welfare of judges,” he said.

“Of course, the public hopes that these good things will be accompanied by an improvement in the quality of the courts,” he added.

The public prosecutor had previously read out a response to the plea submitted by the defendant in the case of smuggling 2 tons of methamphetamine in Batam, with the defendant being Fandi Ramadhan. On that occasion, the prosecutor asked that no one interfere in this case, including members of the DPR.

“For community figures, celebrities, members of the DPR or anyone, let us not interfere with law enforcement,” said public prosecutor Muhammad Arfian at the Batam District Court, Wednesday (25/2).

In the trial, the prosecutor emphasized that the panel of judges must decide the case purely based on the facts of the trial, not because of interference from any party.

“Let the panel of judges decide this case fairly, as fairly as possible, based on the facts of the trial, not because of opinions or pressure from the public,” he said in the reading of the response.

Also watch the video “Commission III of the DPR Discusses the Death Penalty for Crew Members Carrying 2 Tons of Methamphetamine”