Fandi ABK Sea Dragon Case: Parliament Summons District Attorney and BNN, Judicial Commission to Monitor Trial

The case ensnaring Fandi Ramadhan, a crew member of the Sea Dragon vessel, continues to develop and has entered a new phase.

Fandi, along with several other crew members of the vessel, has become a defendant in a methamphetamine smuggling case involving approximately 2 tonnes of the narcotic transported via the Sea Dragon.

In the prosecutor’s primary indictment, the drug distribution was stated to have been carried out by Fandi together with several other individuals: Hasiholan Samosir, Leo Chandra Samosir, Richard Halomoan Tambunan, Teerapong Lekpradub, and Weerapat Phongwan, also known as Mr Phong. Each defendant is being prosecuted separately. There is also another perpetrator, Mr Tan, alias Jacky Tan, who is listed as a wanted person.

Fandi and his family have stated they were unaware of the cargo’s contents, which turned out to be narcotics.

A number of state institutions are now scrutinising the legal process.

Parliament to Summon District Attorney and BNN

Commission III of the Indonesian House of Representatives held a public hearing with Fandi’s family to reaffirm judicial fairness and ensure law enforcers operate according to regulations.

Habiburokhman, Chair of Commission III, stated that the summons were issued to investigate case number 863/Pid.Sus/2025/PN Btm, which is currently being heard at the Batam District Court.

“Commission III of the House of Representatives will summon the BNN investigator and the Head of the Batam District Attorney’s Office regarding case number 863/Pid.Sus/2025/PN Btm to provide clear explanations regarding the case being handled,” said Habiburokhman when receiving an audience with Fandi’s parents at the parliamentary complex in Jakarta on Thursday (26 February).

Parliament Requests Supervisory Deputy Attorney General to Reprimand Prosecutor

Commission III also requested the Supervisory Deputy Attorney General (Jamwas) to reprimand the prosecutor, as the prosecutor had alleged that parliament was intervening in the case.

“Commission III of the House of Representatives requests the Supervisory Deputy Attorney General to reprimand and investigate the prosecutor of the Batam District Attorney’s Office in case number 803/Pid.Sus/2025/PN Btm in the name of Muhammad Arfian to be careful in voicing opinions publicly,” said Habiburokhman.

Habiburokhman denied that his commission had intervened in the legal process. According to him, Commission III instead has the obligation to ensure that law enforcement officers work in accordance with the law.

Previously, prosecutor Muhammad Arfian, during the prosecution’s closing arguments at the Batam District Court on Wednesday (25 February), asked the bench to decide the case purely based on facts presented in court, not due to intervention from any party.

“Whether from community leaders, celebrities, members of parliament, or anyone else, let us not interfere with law enforcement,” said Arfian.

Judicial Commission Ready to Monitor Trial

Parliament also requested the Judicial Commission (KY) to monitor the trial process to ensure it proceeds according to legal regulations.

“Commission III of the House of Representatives requests the Judicial Commission to monitor the handling of case number 12/Pid.B/2026/PN Mtr and case number 863/Pid.Sus/2026/PN Btm in accordance with applicable laws and regulations,” said the Gerindra politician.

Desmihardi, Deputy Chair of the Judicial Commission, assured that his institution is ready to follow up.

In addition to being ready to monitor the narcotics smuggling case involving crew member Fandi, the Judicial Commission also stated its readiness to monitor the proceedings of the case concerning the death of a University of Mataram student at the Mataram District Court in West Nusa Tenggara.

“The Judicial Commission is ready to implement the recommendation of Commission III of the House of Representatives to monitor the investigation process of these two cases. The Judicial Commission will promptly deploy a monitoring team to conduct monitoring of these two cases,” said Desmihardi, as reported by Antara news agency.

Defence Plea Rejected, Prosecutor Maintains Death Penalty Demand

The prosecutor rejected the written defence plea submitted by Fandi and his legal team. The death penalty demand remains in place.

The prosecutor refuted Fandi’s defence points and those of his lawyers one by one. The prosecutor stated that although the Sea Dragon tanker was intercepted in the Karimun waters, the methamphetamine was only discovered when the vessel docked at the Customs Terminal at Tanjung Uncang, Batam.

“The argument by defence counsel that the indictment is null and void is unfounded and must be disregarded,” said prosecutor Muhammad Arfian at the Batam District Court.

Fandi was previously sentenced to death on 5 February.

Fandi’s Mother Reveals Suspicions About Cardboard Boxes

During the hearing at parliament, Fandi’s mother, Nirwana, recounted how her son had initially thought the cardboard boxes containing methamphetamine that he helped load onto the vessel contained a bomb.

“This cannot be right, how would the ship carry these, boxes like these, this cannot be right. How would he know the contents were a bomb,” said Nirwana during the hearing, mimicking her son’s account.

On that occasion, Nirwana, who was present with her husband, legal team, and senior advocate Hotman Paris Hutapea, recounted the chronology of how Fandi became a crew member and the initial departure of the Sea Dragon from Thailand.

She also revealed Fandi’s initial suspicions regarding the cardboard boxes he helped load during the voyage.

According to Nirwana, Fandi initially applied to become a crew member on a cargo vessel in Thailand. However, after waiting approximately three days in Thailand, the captain informed him that the vessel had been changed from a cargo ship to a tanker carrying oil.

Hotman Paris Questions Death Penalty Demand

Hotman Paris Hutapea, who attended the hearing with parliament and Fandi’s family, questioned the basis for the death penalty demand against Fandi, a crew member who was unaware the vessel was carrying nearly 2 tonnes of methamphetamine.

According to Hotman, from the beginning Fandi was unaware that the 67 cardboard boxes he helped transfer from a fishing vessel to the Sea Dragon contained methamphetamine.

“The problem is, how can he be sentenced to death, when there is absolutely no evidence that he knew the contents,” said Hotman.

Furthermore, Fandi had only been employed as a crew member on the Sea Dragon for three days.

“The question is, if a ship captain travels to Thailand to smuggle 2 tonnes of narcotics, is it possible that the ship’s owner doesn’t know this captain? Is it possible he wouldn’t trust…”