Illegal Oil Well Case That Killed 5: Three Defendants Sentenced to 6 Months

The panel of judges at the Blora District Court has handed down a six-month prison sentence to three defendants in the case of an illegal oil well fire in Dukuh Gendono, Gandu Village, Bogorejo District, Blora Regency, which resulted in the deaths of five people.

The trial over the illegal oil well fire in Dukuh Gendono, Gandu Village, Bogorejo District, Blora Regency, which occurred on 17 August 2025, entered its final stage after the panel of judges chaired by Nunung Kristiyani delivered its verdict against the three defendants, namely Hartono, Suparman and Suhartono.

The illegal oil well fire in Dukuh Gendono, Gandu Village, Bogorejo District, Blora Regency lasted for a week and killed five residents: Tanek (60), Sureni (52), Wasini (50), Yeti (30) and a toddler, AD (2). The case drew widespread attention and led to the prosecution of the three defendants.

The three were charged under different indictments, but the panel of judges ultimately sentenced all three to six months in prison without requiring them to serve the sentence, although the defendants stated they would consider the verdict, as did the public prosecutor.

Defendants Hartono and Suparman were charged under Article 474 paragraph (3) of the Criminal Code in conjunction with Article 20 letter c of Law Number 1 of 2023 on the Criminal Code, Law Number 20 of 2025 on the Criminal Procedure Code, and other relevant legislation.

“The court finds defendants Hartono and Suparman legally and convincingly proven guilty of participating in a criminal act of negligence resulting in the death of others, as stated in the second alternative charge,” said presiding judge Nunung Kristiyani during the hearing at the Blora District Court on Monday (24/8).

For these offences, Nunung Kristiyani continued, the court sentenced both defendants to six months’ imprisonment, with the period of arrest and detention already served to be deducted in full from the sentence imposed.

As for defendant Suhartono, Nunung Kristiyani explained, he was charged under Article 474 paragraph (3) of the Criminal Code in conjunction with Article 20 letter C, Article 76 paragraphs 1 to 7 of Law Number 1 of 2023 on the Criminal Code, Law Number 20 of 2025 on the Criminal Procedure Code, and other relevant legislation.

“Defendant Suhartono is legally and convincingly proven guilty of participating in a criminal act of negligence resulting in the death of others, as stated in the second alternative charge,” said Nunung Kristiyani.

For these offences, Nunung Kristiyani continued, the panel of judges imposed a six-month prison sentence, but the sentence need not be served provided the defendant does not commit another criminal offence during a one-year supervision period. “The three defendants are also ordered to pay court costs of Rp5,000,” she added.