North Gorontalo Prosecutor’s Office Halts Prosecution in Narcotics Case

Gorontalo (ANTARA) - The North Gorontalo District Prosecutor’s Office has halted prosecution of a narcotics abuse case involving a suspect identified by the initials RS through a restorative justice mechanism, and referred him to a hospital for rehabilitation.

North Gorontalo District Prosecutor Aditya Narwanto said in Gorontalo on Friday that RS had been transferred to dr Zainal Umar Sidiki Regional General Hospital (RSUD) for medical and social rehabilitation.

The handover took place in the hall of the North Gorontalo Prosecutor’s Office on Friday, after RS’s case was resolved through restorative justice.

Aditya said the prosecution was halted under a formal decision issued by the head of the North Gorontalo Prosecutor’s Office and an order from the chair of the Limboto District Court.

He explained that the case met the requirements for resolution through restorative justice as set out in Articles 79 to 88 of Law No. 20 of 2025 on the Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP), as well as other relevant regulations.

Under this mechanism, the handling of RS’s case focused on medical and social rehabilitation rather than imprisonment.

Aditya said the use of restorative justice in narcotics abuse cases was a legal approach that prioritised recovery for users or addicts who met the requirements.

He said the approach gave the individual an opportunity to recover and return to community life.

“Resolving the case through restorative justice is expected to give the individual a second chance to recover and improve himself, and eventually to be accepted back into society, as well as to ensure that he does not repeat the offence,” Aditya said.