Judge Sentences Brigadier Rizka to 4 Years Less Than Prosecutors' Demand, Citing Her Young Children

Brigadier Rizka Sintiyani has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for the murder of her husband, Brigadier Esco Faska Rely. The Mataram District Court handed down a sentence four years lighter than the demand made by public prosecutors. The reason given was that Rizka has two young children. “The defendant is a mother with small children. She has family dependents. She has never been convicted before,” said presiding judge I Putu Suyoga during the verdict hearing at Mataram District Court on Friday (19/6/2026).

The judge explained that justice under the law is not only for the victim and the victim’s family, but also for Rizka, particularly her two children who will bear the psychological consequences of the sentence imposed on their mother. “The paramount consideration is the best interests of the child. This must be a primary consideration in every policy, including in the criminal justice process,” Suyoga stated. “It is not only about punishing the past, but also about giving the defendant an opportunity to rehabilitate herself and raise her children after serving her sentence,” he added.

It is known that the two children of the defendant Rizka and the victim Esco are currently aged 6 and 3 years respectively. For the judge, both children still need the affection and physical presence of a mother during their growth and development. Since Rizka was detained, the two children have been cared for by Brigadier Esco’s parents. The judge noted that a mother’s presence cannot be fully replaced by another figure. “Although the defendant has committed a very serious crime, it does not mean her children’s rights should simply be ignored. An overly long prison sentence would cause both children to lose the physical and emotional figure of a mother for many years, which could have long-term psychological impacts,” the judge continued.

Additionally, in his considerations, the judge recommended that the correctional facility where Rizka serves her sentence provide a rehabilitation programme for mothers with young children, including more intensive visitation facilities for the defendant’s two children. “This verdict is expected to provide a sense of living justice within society, not only for the victim’s family, but also for the defendant and especially for the young children who are indirect victims of this case,” he concluded.

The judge’s verdict for Rizka was four years lighter than the prosecutors’ demand. Previously, Rizka had been charged with a 14-year prison sentence. Rizka is one of the defendants in the murder case of Brigadier Esco, who was her husband. Besides Rizka, there are four other defendants: Siaun, Nuraini, Paozi and Dani Rifkan. These four defendants were sentenced to eight months and seven days in prison. The judge stated the four defendants were involved in concealing Brigadier Esco’s body. They were sentenced to eight months and seven days in prison based on Article 270 in conjunction with Article 20 letter c of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code.