Family of Bank Branch Manager Urges Military Prosecutor to File Appeal

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The family of the victim in the alleged kidnapping and murder of a bank branch manager, identified by the initials MIP (3emb37), has expressed profound disappointment and is urging the Military Prosecutor to file an appeal against the judges’ decision regarding the defendants.

“First of all, I, along with the father, sibling, and other family members, including the victim’s wife, am deeply disappointed with today’s verdict. Therefore, our legal team will immediately take the necessary legal steps,” said Marselinus Edwin, the legal counsel for the bank manager’s family, following the sentencing hearing at the Military Court II-08 Jakarta on Wednesday.

Through their legal team, the family expressed that they feel devastated, believing the verdict fails to meet the requirements of justice, and they plan to pursue further legal avenues. As a follow-up, the family intends to send letters to the Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (Panglima TNI) and the Military Prosecutor. This move is intended to pressure the authorities to ensure the case receives serious attention and that the legal process does not end at the first-instance verdict.

“We will send letters to the Commander of the TNI and also to the Prosecutor. We believe the Prosecutor is obligated to appeal this decision,” said Edwin.

The family’s dissatisfaction began as early as the indictment stage. According to the legal counsel, the family had hoped the defendants would be charged with premeditated murder, but this did not materialise. The family argues that the sequence of events revealed during the trial should have been a stronger consideration for imposing heavier charges and sentences.

Furthermore, the legal counsel noted that this case affects the image of the military institution, whose primary duty is to protect the public. The family vehemently rejected the court’s consideration that the primary defendant abandoned the victim in a remote location out of confusion, hoping the victim would be found by the public. “We strongly reject that statement. If the intention was truly to save the victim, they should have been helped and taken to a hospital or clinic so their life could have been saved,” Edwin explained.

In addition to seeking an appeal through the Military Prosecutor, the family is preparing other legal steps regarding the judicial system for cases involving both civilian and military perpetrators. The legal team revealed they have received a summons from the Constitutional Court (MK) to attend an agenda regarding the judicial review of Article 170 paragraph (1) of the Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP) on 10 June.

“We hope the judges of the Constitutional Court can add the word ‘mandatory’ to that article. Thus, for connectivity crimes committed jointly by civilian and military perpetrators, they can be tried in General Courts in the future, rather than Military Courts,” said Edwin.

In the verdict, the panel of judges sentenced the first defendant, Serka Mochamad Nasir, to 13 years in prison; the second defendant, Kopda Feri Herianto, to seven years; and the third defendant, Serka Frengky Yaru, to one year. The first and second defendants were also subject to additional penalties of dishonorable discharge from military service. Furthermore, the first defendant was ordered to pay restitution of Rp750 million, while the second defendant must pay Rp500 million.