Reserve Component Member Who Sold Firearm Faces 1 Year 3 Months Prison Demand

An Army Reserve Component (Komcad) member, Akhmad Soleh Ricardo, has been charged with one year and three months in prison in a case concerning the possession and planned sale of an unlicensed improvised firearm.

The sentence was read out by Public Prosecutor Ni Luh Hartini Puspita Sari during a hearing at the Denpasar District Court on Tuesday (21/7/2026).

Prosecutors found Akhmad proven to have committed a criminal offence under Article 306 of the Criminal Code. The article forms the basis of the charges in the case concerning the possession, control, carrying, storage and attempted trading of an unlicensed firearm.

In the sentencing demand, Akhmad was requested to serve one year and three months in prison. Meanwhile, the two other defendants in the case, MHD Harold Patrick and Muhammad Tegar Khadafi, were each charged with one year in prison.

After the sentence was read out, the defendants’ legal counsel, Evi Sitohang, delivered an oral defence before the panel of judges.

In the defence, the lawyer requested the panel of judges to impose the lightest possible sentence on Akhmad Soleh Ricardo.

“As the defendants’ legal counsel, we are delivering our defence orally. We ask the panel of judges to impose the lightest possible sentence on the defendant Akhmad Soleh Ricardo,” she said.

The legal counsel presented several mitigating considerations. Among others, Akhmad was considered to have behaved politely throughout the trial and had not obstructed the legal process. The defendant was also said to have never been convicted before and is the breadwinner of a family with three children.

“Throughout the trial the defendant behaved politely, did not obstruct the proceedings, and has never been convicted. The defendant is also the breadwinner of a family with three children,” Evi said.

The legal counsel then asked the panel of judges to take all these circumstances into consideration. However, should the judges have other considerations, she still requested that Akhmad be given the lightest possible sentence.

Meanwhile, Tegar Khadafi also delivered an oral defence. In his defence, he stated that he is still a fifth-semester student at the Open University (Universitas Terbuka).

Khadafi claimed he did not know that the package he asked to be delivered contained a firearm. He said he was merely carrying out a request from his senior in the Komcad.

“I sent that package because I was ordered to by my senior. I did not know there was a firearm inside it. I received no payment and only intended to help,” Khadafi said during the hearing.

Khadafi also stated that had he known the package contained prohibited goods, he would not have agreed to deliver it.

“If I had known it was prohibited goods, I would never have done this,” he said.

In his defence, Khadafi also referred to the oath he took when he joined Komcad training. “Because when I was sworn in as a Komcad member of the Indonesian Army, I swore not to betray the Republic of Indonesia,” Khadafi said.

Khadafi then apologised for his mistakes and negligence and asked the panel of judges to impose the lightest possible sentence.

“I apologise for my mistakes and negligence. I hope to be given the lightest possible sentence,” he said.

The case began when Akhmad bought a homemade Sig Sauer-type firearm from Harold for Rp 14 million. The weapon was then shipped from Lampung to Bali with Khadafi’s assistance.

In the indictment, prosecutors stated the pistol was packed using duct tape. The bullets were placed inside a cigarette box and hidden in a cardboard box of snacks and souvenirs before being shipped to Bali.

After receiving the weapon and storing it at his home in the Jimbaran area of Badung, Akhmad attempted to resell it. The firearm was initially offered at Rp 35 million. After a bargaining process, the price was agreed at Rp 33 million.

The transaction was planned to take place in the Jalan Buana Raya area of West Denpasar on 22 January 2026. Akhmad carried the firearm on a motorbike, storing it under the seat. Upon arriving at the location, the defendant shared his whereabouts with the prospective buyer.

However, the transaction never took place. Akhmad was instead detained by several individuals and subsequently handed over to members of the Denpasar City Police.

Based on forensic laboratory examination, the firearm used as evidence is an improvised handmade pistol with a barrel diameter of 9.76 millimetres.

Ballistic test results showed the weapon was still capable of firing bullets properly. In addition, four live 9 x 19 millimetre bullets that were still active and had never been fired were also seized.