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

The High Prosecutor’s Office (Kejati) of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) has stated it is ready to appeal a court ruling that imposed a six-year prison sentence on the defendant in the case of the death of student Made Vaniradya at Nipah Beach. Kejati NTB Spokesperson Harun Al Rasyid in Mataram on Thursday said public prosecutors (JPU) planned to file the appeal next week. “Yes, God willing, the JPU will file the appeal next week,” he said. Harun explained that the legal action was taken because the panel of judges declared the defendant Radiet Adiansyah proven to have committed assault resulting in the victim’s death. Based on that ruling, the panel of judges declared the defendant proven to have violated the second alternative indictment, namely Article 466 paragraph (3) of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code (KUHP). The verdict was reached by a majority vote of the panel of judges. In the case, presiding judge Mukhlassuddin delivered a dissenting opinion. According to Mukhlassuddin, the defendant was not proven guilty of all charges brought by the public prosecutor due to an alleged involvement of a third party that caused the victim’s death. The majority ruling differed from the prosecutors’ demand, which had previously requested the defendant be found guilty of violating Article 458 paragraph (1) of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code related to the crime of murder. Prosecutors based their demand on trial facts, including forensic expert testimony regarding the finding 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 depicted in a facial sketch, prosecutors assessed this could not be used as a basis because it was not supported by evidence. Meanwhile, Kusnaini, representing the defendant’s legal counsel team, stated that their side would also file an appeal to the NTB High Court. The statement was delivered following the verdict hearing at the Mataram District Court on Wednesday (10/6). According to Kusnaini, their side believes their client is not proven guilty in the case.