Prosecutor Who Sought Death Penalty for Crew Member Fandi Apologises to Parliament, Faces Disciplinary Action
Prosecutor Muhammad Arfian from the Batam District Attorney’s Office submitted a formal apology during a parliamentary hearing before the House of Representatives’ Commission III on Wednesday, 11 March.
Arfian was the prosecutor who sought the death penalty for Fandi Ramadhan, a crew member (ABK) on the Sea Dragon, who was accused of involvement in a narcotics smuggling case involving nearly 2 tonnes of drugs. At the time, he had made critical remarks directed at Commission III, which he alleged had intervened in the case.
“We, prosecutor Muhammad Arfian, wish to express our sincerest and deepest apologies for our errors during the previous trial proceedings,” Arfian stated during the hearing.
Arfian acknowledged that he had received disciplinary sanctions from the Prosecutorial Supervision Division (Jamwas). He expressed gratitude to Commission III for its scrutiny and attention in the matter.
“We have undergone examination and been found guilty by Jamwas, and disciplinary punishment has already been imposed on us,” he said.
In response, Commission III Chairman Habiburokhman stated that he forgave Arfian. Habib expressed hope that the case would serve as a learning opportunity for young prosecutors to exercise better judgment.
“We have forgiven our colleague Muhammad Arfian, and we hope that as a young person, he will learn from this experience, be more prudent going forward, and have a successful career ahead,” he remarked.
Regarding the case, Habib denied allegations that Commission III had intervened. According to him, Commission III merely exercised its oversight function regarding the judicial and prosecutorial processes as a partner body.
“Commission III did not intervene in the technical aspects of these criminal proceedings. Rather, we exercise oversight over our partner institutions, as regulated by Article 20A of the 1945 Constitution,” Habib stated.
In the case, Fandi was subsequently sentenced to five years imprisonment for the narcotics smuggling offence involving nearly 2 tonnes of drugs.
The judge found Fandi Ramadhan guilty beyond reasonable doubt of criminal conspiracy without legal authority and of acting as an intermediary in the distribution of Class I narcotics weighing more than 5 grammes, as charged by the prosecutor.
“The court hereby imposes a sentence of five years imprisonment on the defendant Fandi,” the judge stated when pronouncing the verdict at Batam District Court on Thursday, 5 March.