Terra Drone Boss Seeks Lenient Sentence as Employees Speak Out

On Tuesday, 19 May 2026, the President Director (Dirut) of PT Terra Drone Indonesia, Michael Wisnu Wardhana, read his personal defence plea in a session at the Central Jakarta District Court. In his plea, Michael asked the panel of judges to hand down the lightest possible sentence. ‘I appeal to Your Honour the Panel of Judges to grant me leniency and/or the lightest possible sentence,’ Michael said in court. First, he said he had cooperated throughout the legal process. Second, since December 2025 until now, PT Terra Drone Indonesia has pursued settlement efforts with the families of all those who died in the fire. Third, Michael stated that he had never previously served a criminal sentence. Fourth, he said he still has his parents and other family members who depend on him and need his presence. Fifth, Michael said he must continue to run the company because he bears responsibility for 340 employees. Sixth, Michael expressed remorse for the tragedy and promised to improve in the future. Previously, Michael was charged with two years’ imprisonment in the Terra Drone Indonesia office fire case that killed 22 employees. He was found guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the offence of negligence resulting in the death of others. Michael also emphasised that the December 9, 2025 fire was a calamity beyond his control as the head of the company.