Fandi, Crew Member from Medan, Faces Death Penalty as Grandmother Appeals to Prabowo for Help

Siti Kholijah, the grandmother of Fandi Ramadan — a ship crew member standing trial for involvement in the smuggling of 2 tonnes of methamphetamine — attended Batam District Court in person to show support for her grandson. She appealed to President Prabowo Subianto to secure his release from the death penalty demand.

“By God, he is not guilty. By God, I know he is not guilty. My grandson is always by my side every day. When the call to prayer sounds, he goes to the mosque. He never misses any of the five daily prayers,” Siti said at Batam District Court on Monday (23/2/2026).

Siti said Fandi regularly helped the family, including paying for his younger sibling’s schooling. She expressed hope that her grandson could be freed to reunite with his family in Medan.

“Whatever little money he earned, he would help his sibling with school fees. That is who he is,” she said.

On that occasion, Siti openly requested the President to give attention to the case ensnaring her grandson.

“I ask Pak Prabowo, please free my grandson. He is genuinely not guilty,” she said.

Previously, prosecutors had demanded the death penalty for four Indonesian nationals and two Thai foreign nationals involved in the smuggling of 2 tonnes of methamphetamine in the waters of the Riau Islands.

The demands were read out by prosecutor Gustirio during a hearing at Batam District Court. The trial was presided over by chief judge Tiwik, accompanied by panel members Douglas Napitupulu and Randi Jastian Afandi.

“To impose the death penalty upon all defendants and to order that the defendants remain detained in the state detention facility,” the prosecutor said during the hearing on Thursday (5/2).

The six defendants facing the death penalty are two Thai nationals, Weerapat Phongwan and Teerapong Lekpradube, as well as four Indonesian nationals: Fandi Ramadhan, Richard Halomoan, Leo Candra Samosir, and Hasiholan Samosir.