Batam prosecutors have demanded the death penalty for six defendants accused of smuggling two tons of methamphetamine into Riau Islands waters aboard the Sea Dragon Terawa vessel.
Methamphetamine Smuggling Case
The Batam District Attorney’s Office is seeking the death penalty for two Thai citizens – Weerepat Phongwan and Teerapong Lekpradube – and four Indonesian citizens: Fandi Ramadhan, Richard Halomoan, Leo Candra Samosir, and Hasiholan Samosir. The request was made during a trial at the Batam District Court on Thursday.
Prosecutors stated the charges are supported by testimony from 10 witnesses and three expert witnesses. Evidence presented included 67 brown cardboard boxes wrapped in clear plastic, with 66 containing 30 packages of methamphetamine each, and one box containing 20 packages, totaling nearly 2 tons.
“We conclude that the defendants have been legally and convincingly proven to have committed a crime in violation of the law, as stipulated in Article 114 paragraph (2) in conjunction with Article 132 paragraph (1) of Law Number 35 of 2009,” said prosecutor Gustirio Kurniawan.
The prosecution requested the panel of judges find the defendants guilty as charged and sentence Weerepat Phongwan to death, with an order for him to remain in state detention. Identical demands were made for the other five defendants.
The prosecution argued for the maximum sentence, citing the defendants’ actions as undermining government drug eradication programs, endangering the nation’s future, and involving an international narcotics network. “There are no mitigating circumstances,” Kurniawan added.
Following the reading of the indictments, the defendants’ lawyers requested time to submit a written defense. The judge adjourned the trial for two weeks, with the defense hearing scheduled for Feb. 26, 2026.
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