Kopda Feri Claims He Was Merely Following a Senior's Orders in Murder Case Involving State-Owned Bank Branch Manager
Jakarta — Kopda Feri Herianto, the defendant in the murder case of Mohammad Ilham Pradipta, the Head of Branch (Kacab) of a state-owned bank, has claimed he only followed the orders of his senior, Serka Muhammad Nasir, when carrying out the act.
He asked the panel to take this into account when delivering the verdict, arguing that the prosecutor’s request for a 10-year prison term was too harsh.
“We are only a private-ranked soldier and we think positively. It is impossible that a senior of ours would lead us astray,” Feri said during the plea reading or defence statement at the Military Court II-08 Jakarta on Thursday, 21 May 2026.
He also said he felt deceived by Nasir and Yohanes Joko Pamungkas, who are also defendants in the case.
“With permission, Your Honour, we respect you, and in this case, we hope and we ask the Honourable Judge, we ask forgiveness for our actions which violated Sapta Marga as well as the Soldier’s Oath and the Eight Obligations of the Indonesian National Armed Forces,” he said.
“We promise before the Chief Judge, to you, Mr and Mrs Prosecutor, and our counsel, that we will not repeat this and we regret our actions,” he added.
Earlier, Military Prosecutor II-07 Jakarta had demanded three TNI members as defendants in the murder of Head of Branch Mohammad Ilham Pradipta, with prison terms and dismissal from military service.
“Defendant one Serka Mochamad Nasir, main sentence, 12 years’ imprisonment, minus the time already served,” said Military Prosecutor Major Chk Wasinton Marpaung when reading the charges on Monday, 18 May 2026.
“Defendant one. Murder committed jointly as provided and punished under Article 338 of the KUHP in conjunction with Article 55(1) (1) of the KUHP in conjunction with Article 458(1) of Law No. 1 of 2023 in conjunction with Article 20(a) of Law No. 1 of 2023,” Marpaung noted.
“Second, concealing a body with the intent to conceal its death, carried out jointly or individually, as provided and punished under Article 181 of the KUHP in conjunction with Article 55(1) (1) of the KUHP in conjunction with Article 270 of Law No. 1 of 2023 in conjunction with Article 20(a) of Law No. 1 of 2023,” he added.
Meanwhile, the second defendant, Kopda Feri Herianto, faces a 10-year prison term for his involvement.
“Defendant two, Kopda Feri Herianto, main sentence of 10 years, reduced by time already served. Additional penalty: dismissal from the Army,” Marpaung said.
As for the third defendant, Serka Frengky Yaru, he faces four years in prison for involvement in Ilham’s death, but will not be discharged from TNI.