Prosecutors Maintain Death Penalty Demand for Crew Members Caught with 2 Tons of Meth, Despite Criticism from the DPR RI

Prosecutors in Batam, Riau Islands, stated that they would continue to seek the death penalty for six crew members of the Sea Dragon Terawa, who were caught transporting almost 2 tons of methamphetamine.

This decision was made despite criticism from the Chairman of Commission III of the DPR RI, Habiburokhman.

The statement was made by the prosecutor during the hearing on the response to the defendant’s plea (replik) at the Batam District Court on Wednesday, February 25, 2026.

“In principle, we as prosecutors remain firm on the criminal charges that have been read on Thursday, February 5, 2026,” said prosecutor Muhammad Arfian during the trial.

The six defendants, including two Thai nationals, Teerapong Lekpradube and Weerepat Phongwan, and four Indonesian nationals, namely Fandi Ramadhan, Richard Halomoan, Leo Candra Samosir, and Hasiholan Samosir, were charged with the death penalty by the prosecutors of the Batam Prosecutor’s Office.

In their replik, the prosecutors stated that they had made every effort to prove that the defendants, including Fandi Ramadhan, had been proven guilty of committing drug crimes.

The prosecutors rejected all the defense arguments presented by the defendants’ lawyers and asked the panel of judges examining and deciding the case to reject the defendants’ defense and decide the case as in the first primary indictment, namely the death penalty.

After the prosecutor’s replik was delivered, the panel of judges allowed the defendant’s lawyers to respond (dupik).

Each of the lawyers also stated that they would remain firm on their defense, which states that their clients are innocent and not involved in the drug network.

After the replik and duplik were delivered, the panel of judges, led by the Chairman of the Batam District Court as the chairman of the panel of judges, Tiwik, along with two members of the panel, Douglas R.P. Napitupulu and Randi Jastian Afandi, closed the hearing.

The trial will continue with the agenda of the verdict, which is scheduled for Thursday, March 5, 2026. (Ant)