Brigadier J Murder: Prosecution Sentencing Requests Explained

Five defendants have been charged with premeditated murder which can carry a life term or the death penalty...

Over two days at South Jakarta District Court, Indonesia’s Prosecutor’s Office set forth its demands in the Brigadier J Murder Case.

Some five people are on trial for the premeditated murder of Brigadier Nofriansyah Yosua Hutabarat (27), the bodyguard and driver of Inspector General Ferdy Sambo, the Head of Indonesia’s Internal Affairs and a two-star general.

Hutabarat was gunned down in Sambo’s home in Jakarta on 8 July 2022, with conflicting stories emerging as to how he had come to be shot. Sambo claimed, and maintained at trial, that Hutabarat was caught sexually assaulting Sambo’s wife and had fired first, before Brigadier Richard Eliezer Pudihang Lumiu, another of Sambo’s aides, had shot him dead.

Following inconsistencies in testimonies, as well as allegations of a cover up when vital evidence such as CCTV footage went missing, five people - including Sambo’s wife - were arrested and put on trial for his murder.

The trial began in South Jakarta on 17 October 2022, and on 17 and 18 January, the prosecution read its sentencing requests - including mitigating and aggravating factors - in front of a court packed with supporters and family members of the accused.

The prosecution alleged that Hutabarat and Candrawathi were having an affair which was uncovered by Sambo, prompting him to plan and order Hutabarat’s murder. This involved Hutabarat being brought to Sambo's home in Jakarta at an appointed time by members of Sambo's entourage, where he was then shot.

Hutabarat’s family say they do not believe that any such affair took place.

Who Are The Five On Trial?

Kuat Ma’ruf:

Rank: Civilian

Job: Driver and personal assistant of Sambo’s wife, Putri Candrawathi

Charges: Premeditated murder

Synopsis: Ma’ruf is accused of having known about the murder plot ahead of time and not reporting it. He was also allegedly present when Hutabarat was shot, and carried a knife in case he tried to flee or fight back.

Prosecution request: 8 years imprisonment

Aggravating factors: His actions lead to Hutabarat’s death and caused great distress to Hutabarat’s family; he did not admit his crime in court or show remorse, and his testimony was inconsistent; his actions caused unrest in the community.

Mitigating factors: This was his first offence; he was polite in court; the offence was not “self-motivated” and he had been following orders from others.