Prosecutors maintain death penalty demand for crew members smuggling 2 tons of methamphetamine

Batam (ANTARA) - The Public Prosecutor of the Batam District Attorney’s Office, Riau Islands, stated that they will continue to demand the death penalty for the six crew members of the Sea Dragon Terawa, who were carrying nearly 2 tons of methamphetamine.

This statement was made by the prosecutor during the hearing on the prosecution’s response to the defendant’s plea (rebuttal) at the Batam District Court on Wednesday, February 25th.

“In principle, as the public prosecutor, we remain firm on the criminal charges that were read on Thursday, February 5th, 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 Batam District Attorney’s Office.

In their rebuttal, the prosecutors stated that they had made every effort to prove that the defendants, including Fandi Ramadhan, were guilty of committing the crime of narcotics trafficking.

The prosecutors rejected all defense arguments presented by the defendants’ lawyers and requested that the panel of judges presiding over the case reject the defendants’ plea and decide the case as stated in the primary indictment, namely the death penalty.

After the prosecutor’s rebuttal was delivered, the panel of judges allowed the defendants’ lawyers to respond (duplik).

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

After the rebuttal and duplik were presented, the panel of judges, led by the Head of the Batam District Court as the chairman of the panel, Tiwik, along with two members of the panel, Douglas R.P. Napitupulu and Randi Jastian Afandi, adjourned the session.

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