Habiburokhman Grateful That Fandi Ramadhan, ABK Involved in 1.9-Tonne Meth Smuggling Case, Escapes the Death Penalty

Jakarta – Habiburokhman, the head of the Indonesian House of Representatives’ Commission III, said he was pleased and grateful that Fandi Ramadhan, a Medan seaman who was implicated in a 1.9-tonne methamphetamine smuggling case, escaped the death penalty. He criticised the demand for the death penalty against Fandi, saying it is an optional punishment under the new Penal Code and must be exercised very selectively. ‘Alhamdulillah we are grateful that Fandi was not sentenced to death. This shows that the panel of judges truly understands the principles and norms in the new Penal Code and the new Criminal Procedure Code, which are oriented toward substantive, rehabilitative and substantive justice,’ Habiburokhman said on Friday, 6 March 2026. The Gerindra party politician said the judges deciding Fandi’s case already understand the new Penal Code related to capital punishment. He said he is relieved that their efforts to help ordinary people seek justice can yield a good result. ‘The panel already understands that, pursuant to Article 98 of the Penal Code, the death penalty is the last resort and its application must be highly selective. We are truly relieved that our efforts to help ordinary people seek justice can achieve a good result,’ he added. He also respected the stance of Fandi’s defence counsel who fought for his client’s release. The Commission III of the DPR will also summon investigators and prosecutors to question whether Fandi’s rights were fulfilled. ‘We will continue to summon investigators and prosecutors in this case to question the handling of the suspect’s or defendant’s rights from the outset of the case up to yesterday’s verdict,’ he said. Previously, the Batam District Court in the Riau Islands (Kepri) handed a five-year prison sentence to the seafarer of Sea Dragon Terawa, Fandi Ramadhan, in the case of smuggling narcotics of the meth type with a weight of almost 2 tonnes. ‘Sentencing the defendant, therefore, to a term of five years’ imprisonment,’ said Chief Judge Tiwik of Batam District Court on Thursday. In his verdict, the panel found Fandi Ramadhan legally and convincingly guilty of conspiring to commit illicit drug trafficking of Class I narcotics not derived from plants weighing more than 5 grams as charged in the prosecution’s primary indictment.