Parents of Sea Dragon Crew Member Fandi, Accompanied by Hotman Paris, Meet with DPR

Commission III of the DPR held a meeting with the parents of Fandi Ramadhan, a crew member accused of smuggling nearly 2 tons of methamphetamine during a raid on the Sea Dragon in the waters of Karimun, Riau Islands, in May 2025.

Nirwana, Fandi’s mother, attended with her husband and a team of lawyers. They were accompanied by senior lawyer Hotman Paris Hutapea.

Chairman of Commission III of the DPR, Habiburokhman, emphasized that the meetings were not intended as an intervention in the legal process. According to Habib, the commission is simply carrying out its supervisory role in cases that affect public justice.

“Commission III does not technically intervene in cases that are being handled by law enforcement officials,” said Habiburokhman at the opening of the meeting in the parliament complex on Thursday (February 26).

Habib added that the commission also wants to ensure that its partners in the legal and security fields are working in accordance with the law.

“It is our responsibility to ensure that the duties of our partners, law enforcement officials, are carried out in accordance with applicable laws and regulations,” he said.

Meanwhile, Hotman Paris, in his presentation, questioned the death sentence for Fandi, who he claims was unaware that the ship was carrying nearly 2 tons of methamphetamine. According to Hotman, Fandi had no knowledge that the 67 boxes he helped move from a fishing boat to the Sea Dragon contained drugs.

“The problem is, why is he being sentenced to death, when there is no evidence at all that he knew what was inside?” said Hotman.

He also stated that Fandi had only been working as a crew member on the Sea Dragon for three days.

“The question is, if a ship captain sets sail to Thailand with 2 tons of drugs, is it possible that the owner does not know the captain? Is it possible that he would entrust 4 trillion rupiah to someone he has just met?” Hotman asked.

Fandi was sentenced to death on February 5 after the discovery of approximately 2 tons of drugs on the ship he worked on.

In the primary indictment, the Public Prosecutor stated that Fandi, along with several other individuals, namely Hasiholan Samosir, Leo Chandra Samosir, Richard Halomoan Tambunan, Teerapong Lekpradub, and Weerapat Phongwan, also known as Mr. Phong, were involved in the drug trafficking. Each defendant is being prosecuted separately.

Meanwhile, another perpetrator, Mr. Tan, also known as Jacky Tan, is on the wanted list.