NTB High Prosecutor's Office to appeal verdict in Nipah student death case

The West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) High Prosecutor’s Office has stated it is prepared to file an appeal against the court decision that sentenced the defendant in the case of the death of student Made Vaniradya at Nipah Beach to six years in prison.

NTB High Prosecutor’s Office spokesperson Harun Al Rasyid in Mataram stated on Thursday that the public prosecutors (JPU) plan to submit the appeal next week.

“Yes, God willing, the JPU will file an appeal next week,” he said.

Harun explained that this legal recourse is being taken because the panel of judges ruled that the defendant, Radiet Adiansyah, was proven to have committed assault resulting in the victim’s death. Based on the verdict, the judges found the defendant guilty of violating the second alternative indictment, namely Article 466, paragraph (3) of Law Number 1 of 2023 regarding the Criminal Code (KUHP).

The decision was reached by a majority vote of the judicial panel. In this case, the presiding judge, Mukhlassuddin, expressed a dissenting opinion. According to Mukhlassuddin, the defendant was not proven guilty of all the charges brought by the prosecution due to allegations of third-party involvement in the victim’s death.

The majority verdict differs from the prosecution’s original demand, which sought to have the defendant convicted under Article 458, paragraph (1) of Law Number 1 of 2023 regarding murder. The prosecutors based their demand on trial facts, including forensic expert testimony regarding the discovery of two DNA profiles at the scene belonging to the victim and the defendant.

Regarding the alleged involvement of another party presented by the defendant during the trial and documented via facial sketches, the prosecutors assessed that this could not serve as a basis for acquittal as it was not supported by evidence.

Meanwhile, Kusnaini, representing the defendant’s legal counsel, stated that they also intend to file an appeal to the NTB High Court. This statement was made following the verdict reading at the Mataram District Court on Wednesday (10/6). According to Kusnaini, the defence maintains that their client is not guilty in this matter.