TNI Soldier's 10-Month Sentence Upheld in Fatal Assault on Junior High Student

The Medan Military Court upheld the sentence of TNI soldier Sertu Riza Pahlivi, who assaulted a junior high school student identified as MHS (15) leading to death, maintaining the 10-month prison term. The ruling, numbered 108-K/PMT.I/BDG/AD/XI/2025, was issued during a deliberation by the panel of judges at the Medan Military Court on 22 January 2026. The panel was chaired by Major General TNI Immanuel P Simanjuntak, with members Colonel Wahyupi and Colonel Farma Nihayatul A. ‘The ruling upholds the Medan Military Court 1-02 decision numbered 67-K/PM.I-02/AD/VI/2025 dated 20 October 2025, in all other respects,’ stated in the judgment document. Legal Aid Institute of Medan (LBH Medan), representing the victim’s family, condemned the appellate ruling. Lawyer Irvan Saputra stated they only received the information three months after the verdict was read. ‘We condemn the ruling and assert that the Military Court has failed to deliver justice for the victim. Moreover, legally, Lenny Damanik had the right to appeal through the Military Prosecutor within 14 days of the verdict being read or communicated to the victim,’ Irvan told detikcom on Tuesday (26 May). ‘However, this legal recourse was immediately forfeited as Lenny and LBH Medan only learned of the appellate ruling three months after it was delivered,’ he added. Previously, the Medan Military Court 1-02 panel had sentenced Sertu Riza Pahlivi to 10 months in prison for the assault on Medan junior high student MHS (15). Riza was also ordered to pay restitution of Rp12.7 million to the plaintiff, Lenny Damanik (MHS’s mother). The court imposed a lighter sentence on Riza; the Military Prosecutor had previously sought a one-year prison term with a Rp500 million fine, or three months in prison if unpaid.