Habiburokhman Hits Back at Prosecutor, Denies Parliament Interfered in Fandi's Case

Habiburokhman, Chairman of Commission III of the Indonesian Parliament, criticised a prosecutor’s statement regarding the case of Fandi Ramadhan, a ship crew member who was initially sentenced to death in Batam, Riau Islands.

Habib denied that the Parliament had interfered in the legal process of the case. According to him, Commission III actually has the obligation to ensure that law enforcement agencies work in accordance with the law.

“Commission III clearly does not intervene technically in cases that are being handled by law enforcement officials,” said Habib during a meeting between Commission III and Fandi’s parents at the parliamentary complex, Thursday (26/2).

The Gerindra Party politician also requested that the Deputy Attorney General for Supervision (Jamwas) reprimand the prosecutor, Muhamad Arfian, in Fandi’s case at the Batam District Court, who claimed that the Parliament had interfered.

According to Habib, it is not only the Parliament that can express its opinion on a legal process, but this can also be conveyed by the public.

“The public can also express their opinion to the court, including in the form of amicus curiae or a friend of the court,” he said.

In Fandi’s case, Habib reminded that the death penalty in the new Criminal Code is no longer a primary punishment, but an alternative. This means that the death penalty is the last alternative that should be carried out by law enforcement officials.

“For the case of Fandi Ramadan, we would like to reiterate that the death penalty is an alternative punishment as a last resort that should be applied very selectively as stipulated in the Criminal Code,” he said.

Prosecutor Muhammad Arfian, during the rebuttal hearing at the Batam District Court on Wednesday (25/2), asked the panel of judges to decide the case purely based on the facts of the trial, not because of interference from any party.

“For community leaders, celebrities, members of parliament or anyone else, let’s not interfere with law enforcement,” said Arfian.

On February 5, Fandi was charged with the death penalty after approximately 2 tons of crystal methamphetamine were found on the ship he worked on.

In the primary indictment of the Public Prosecutor (JPU), it was explained that the drug trafficking was carried out by Fandi along with a number of other people, namely Hasiholan Samosir, Leo Chandra Samosir, Richard Halomoan Tambunan, Teerapong Lekpradub and Weerapat Phongwan alias Mr Phong. The prosecution of each defendant was carried out separately.

Meanwhile, there is another perpetrator, namely Mr Tan alias Jacky Tan, who is on the Wanted Person List (DPO).