Defence Plea Hearing: Crew Member Fandi Reveals Details of 2-Tonne Methamphetamine Smuggling Operation

The defence plea hearing for defendant Fandi Ramadhan in the case of the alleged smuggling of nearly two tonnes of methamphetamine was held at Batam District Court, Riau Islands, on Monday (23 February).

During the proceedings, defence counsel stated that Fandi was merely a victim of a drug syndicate and had no knowledge that the 67 boxes of methamphetamine carried by the tanker Sea Dragon were narcotics, until the vessel was intercepted by a joint task force in Riau Islands waters.

The hearing, which began at 2.00pm Western Indonesian Time, was adjourned for approximately two hours and resumed at 7.00pm to accommodate the breaking of the Ramadan fast.

Fandi’s counsel, Bahktiar Batubara, explained that his client had originally applied for work through an agent named Iwan in April 2025 to serve aboard the cargo vessel MV North Star. However, after being accepted, Fandi was instead transferred to the tanker Sea Dragon, which was said to be transporting oil from Thailand to the Philippines.

“The employment contract clearly stated that his vessel was the MV North Star, but it was changed. After arriving in Thailand and before setting sail, it was changed — he was transferred to the Sea Dragon,” Bahktiar told reporters after the hearing.

He explained that on 1 May 2025, Fandi departed for Thailand via Kualanamu Airport and first met Hasiholan Samosir, captain of the Sea Dragon. From 2 to 13 May 2025, Fandi and three other Indonesian crew members — Richard Halomoan Tambunan, Leo Chandra Samosir, and Hasiholan Samosir — stayed at Hotel Sakura, with arrangements made by Weerapat Phongwan, alias Mr Phong, a Thai national, ostensibly while awaiting the departure schedule.

“From the date of his flight until checking out of Hotel Sakura, Fandi was still officially employed on the cargo vessel MV North Star, not the tanker Sea Dragon,” counsel said.

According to the defence, on 14 May 2025 Fandi was taken by speedboat to the tanker Sea Dragon. He was told that the MV North Star was in dry dock in Batam and that he would temporarily work on the Sea Dragon transporting oil to the Philippines.

“This was the first time — Fandi believed he had been hired to work on the cargo vessel MV North Star, then suddenly Hasiholan Samosir informed him he would temporarily work on the tanker Sea Dragon, which was waiting to transport oil to the Philippines,” counsel explained.

The critical event occurred on 18 May 2025 in waters off Phuket, Thailand. The Sea Dragon stopped and was approached by a Thai-flagged fishing vessel. Fandi observed Mr Phong signalling with a light before the fishing boat drew alongside. A total of 67 brown boxes were then transferred to the ship in a relay.

“Minutes later, Richard Halomoan Tambunan approached Mr Phong. Then Richard Halomoan Tambunan, as chief officer, ordered Fandi, Leo Chandra Samosir, and Teerapong Lekpradub to help transfer the cargo from the fishing vessel to the tanker Sea Dragon — 67 brown boxes passed along in relay fashion,” counsel said.

The boxes were stored in the fuel tank and the bow storage compartment. Fandi questioned the contents of the cargo.

“After storing the brown boxes, Fandi asked Richard Halomoan Tambunan, ‘Where is the oil, sir? Why are there boxes and what is inside them?’ Richard Halomoan replied, ‘I will ask the captain,’” counsel explained.

As the voyage continued, the Thai flag on the vessel was removed and thrown into the sea on orders from superiors. Fandi again raised questions about this.

“Fandi said to Richard Halomoan Tambunan, ‘Why was the flag thrown away? We are sailing — a flag must be displayed.’ The reply was, ‘It does not matter, we are sailing in the open sea and the ship’s flag was already worn out and could not be flown as it would insult the country,’” counsel recounted.

Fandi’s suspicions that the cargo was not oil grew stronger. He claimed to have asked the captain directly. Hasiholan Samosir reportedly responded, “We are just delivering the boss’s order — those boxes contain gold and money.” When Fandi requested that the boxes be inspected out of concern they might contain explosives, the captain allegedly replied that the goods were safe and must not be opened.

The voyage ended on 21 May 2025 when the vessel was stopped and searched by a joint team comprising the Indonesian Navy, the National Narcotics Agency, and Customs and Excise in Riau Islands waters. The search uncovered 67 boxes containing methamphetamine with a net weight of 1,995,130 grams.

Defence counsel emphasised that not a single witness had testified that Fandi was promised a large reward. He received only a standard salary as a crew member with just 10 days of service. The defence argued that the death penalty demanded by the prosecution was inappropriate as there was no element of criminal intent (mens rea).

“It defies logic — having worked for only 10 days, to be accused of conspiring in a narcotics transaction involving 1,995,130 grams,” counsel said.

The defence also requested the panel of judges to acquit Fandi of the charges under Article 114 paragraph 2 in conjunction with Article 132 paragraph 1 of Law Number 35 of 2009 on Narcotics.

“We hope the panel of judges will consider our defence plea, as our client has not been proven to have legally violated Article 114 paragraph 2 in conjunction with Article 132 paragraph 1 of Law 35 of 2009 on Narcotics,” counsel said.

The trial is scheduled to resume on Wednesday (25 February) with the prosecution’s response to the defence pleas of the defendants in the case of the alleged smuggling of nearly two tonnes of methamphetamine.