DPR member seeks solution to controversy over son accused of killing father in Pemalang

Rudianto Lallo, a member of the House of Representatives’ Commission III, has pledged to seek a solution and follow up on the case of a son accused of killing his biological father in Pemalang, Central Java, which has sparked controversy.

He stated that Muhammad Berlian, the defendant accused of killing his father, faced a death penalty demand from prosecutors but was ultimately sentenced to life imprisonment. However, he explained that while Alfian, a thief, is suspected to be the perpetrator, Berlian has been accused of masterminding the murder.

“I personally, as a Commission III member, have heard the mother’s appeals, and Insha Allah we will escalate this to the commission leadership,” Rudianto said during a meeting with Berlian’s family at the parliament complex in Jakarta on Tuesday.

He clarified that the murder took place in Pemalang in 2023, with both Alfian and Berlian facing charges. The court ultimately handed down a life sentence. Multiple legal appeals, including to higher courts, cassation, and review, were filed by the defence, but Berlian’s sentence remains unchanged.

According to him, Berlian’s mother and sibling, who are also relatives of the victim, are seeking justice as they believe he was not responsible for the crime.

“The family feels there is no evidence of communication between the perpetrator and their son, yet the court’s ruling has legally deemed it proven,” he added.

Therefore, he will seek a resolution to address the issue and ensure justice.

“This is intriguing because the victim is the father, and the accused is the son. His mother and sibling insist it wasn’t him or his sibling who did it,” he said.

Meanwhile, defendant’s lawyer Dadang Suganda stated that there was no evidence during the trial proving Berlian instructed Alfian to kill his father.

He explained that the court solely relied on a lie detector test as evidence to accuse Berlian as the mastermind.

“According to us, there was no evidence in court that our client ordered the act via mobile phone or WhatsApp,” Dadang said.