Military Prosecutor rejects defence pleas in bank branch manager murder case

Military Prosecutor firmly rejected all defence pleas submitted by the defendants’ legal counsel in the case of alleged kidnapping and murder of a bank branch manager identified as MIP (37).

‘Therefore, all defence arguments must be rejected,’ said Military Prosecutor from Military Prosecutor’s Office II-07 Jakarta, Major (Chk) Wasinton Marpaung during a continued hearing at Military Court II-08 Jakarta on Monday.

The Military Prosecutor maintained the position outlined in the prosecution’s earlier submitted charges read on 18 May 2026.

During today’s hearing, the Military Prosecutor stated that all elements of the alleged crime had been proven beyond reasonable doubt through legally admissible evidence, in accordance with the Military Justice Act (Law No. 31 of 1997).

According to Wasinton, the defence arguments were unfounded and aimed only at obscuring the legal facts established during the trial.

The defence counsel’s claim that there was no malicious intent (mens rea) for the murder was unfounded.

Wasinton added that malicious intent does not require direct confession but can be inferred from the defendants’ actions before, during, and after the incident.

During the trial, the Military Prosecutor detailed how victim MIP was forcibly taken from the Lotte Mart Pasar Rebo car park by Witness 8 and his team, then transported in a vehicle with his feet, hands, and mouth taped.

The victim was also reportedly subjected to physical assault before being moved into a Toyota Fortuner driven by Defendant 1 and Witness 5.

Inside the vehicle, Defendant 1 allegedly assaulted the victim by kicking him twice in the chest and ribs with his heel, and wrapping a small pink towel around his neck, pulling it upward until the victim’s head was lifted.

Forensic reports from Bhayangkara Hospital Level I, Police Forensic Medical Centre (Pusdokkes Polri), and expert testimony confirmed the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the neck, compressing the airway and major blood vessels, leading to suffocation.

Additionally, broken ribs and lung bruising from blunt force trauma to the chest accelerated the victim’s death.

Forensic expert Asri Megatri Pralepta testified to blood seepage in the neck muscles and injuries consistent with pressure or strangulation, aligning with the cause of death.

‘The neck is a vital area containing the airway and major blood vessels. Such actions are clearly life-threatening,’ said Wasinton.

The Military Prosecutor also rejected the defence’s claim that the defendants’ actions were a spontaneous reaction to the victim’s resistance, noting the trial evidence showed the victim was restrained and unable to resist.

In response, the Military Prosecutor highlighted the roles of Defendants 2 and 3 in planning and controlling the victim’s abduction, stating they communicated and coordinated with Witness 8 and others before and during the incident.

These actions, the Military Prosecutor stated, demonstrated active involvement in the sequence of events leading to the victim’s death.

The defendants in the bank branch manager murder case include Sergeant Mochamad Nasir (Defendant 1), Corporal Feri Herianto (Defendant 2), and Sergeant Frengky Yaru (Defendant 3).