ICJR Hopes Richard Eliezer's Sentence Motivates Criminals to Be Justice Collaborators
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15 February 2023 22:40 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (ICJR) appreciated the ruling of the South Jakarta District Court which declared Richard Eliezer Pudihang Lumiu as a justice collaborator in the premeditated murder of Brigadier Nofriansyah Yosua Hutabarat alias Brigadier J.
“The court’s decision in the Bharada E case is a good practice on how the court should treat JC. And it is hoped it can also motivate other JCs to be brave in assisting law enforcement officials in unveiling a crime,” said ICJR Director Erasmus Napitupulu in a written statement, on Wednesday, February 15, 2023.
Today, Richard was sentenced to one year and six months in prison in the premeditated murder case. The verdict was read out by the presiding judge Wahyu Iman Santoso at the South Jakarta District Court.
The panel of judges took into account Richard's role as a justice collaborator who shed light on the death of his fellow policeman.
“The panel of judges also agreed with the arguments presented in the amicus curiae – a term meaning "friend of the court" – by ICJR and other civil society groups to give an award in the form of imposing the lightest sentence [to Eliezer] among the other perpetrators,” said Erasmus.
The Jakarta-based legal think-tank also appreciated the public prosecutor and the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK). Even though the decision does not yet have permanent legal force, ICJR hoped that Eliezer would keep receiving special treatment as a justice collaborator.
However, ICJR lamented the death sentence given by the court to the former head of the National Police's Professional and Security Division or Propam, Inspector General Ferdy Sambo, for masterminding the murder.
“ICJR still hopes that the victim and the victim's family will get recovery and justice, but we believe that the death penalty is not the answer,” Erasmus remarked.
Richard Eliezer’s sentence is the lowest among the other defendants in the premeditated murder of Brigadier Joshua. Ferdy Sambo was sentenced to death while his wife Putri Candrawathi was sentenced to 20 years in prison. The other two defendants, Kuat Ma'ruf and Ricky Rizal, each got 15 and 13 years in prison.
EKA YUDHA SAPUTRA
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