JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Indonesia court sentenced Second Patrolman Richard Eliezer (Bharada E) to one year and six months for his role as the shooter for the murder of his colleague Brigadier Nofriansyah Yosua Hutabarat (Brigadier J).
His sentence is lighter than the 12 years prosecutors were seeking. The panel of judges granted his appeal to be a justice collaborator in the murder case that caused widespread unrest in the community. His status as a justice collaborator has mitigated the defendant’s punishment.
Bharada E shot Brigadier J on the orders of their then superior Ferdy Sambo, a two-star general and former head of internal affairs for the national police, at his residence in Jakarta in July last year.
“[The court] declares the defendant Richard Eliezer Pudihang Lumiu to be convincingly and legally guilty of committing the crime, assisting of premeditated murder,” said Presiding Judge Wahyu Iman Santoso at the South Jakarta District Court on Wednesday, Feb. 15.
Also read: Ex-Police General Ferdy Sambo Sentenced to Death in Indonesia for Murder Case
“[The court] sentences the defendant Richard Eliezer Pudihang Lumiu to one year and six months.”
When the presiding judge was reading out the verdict, Richard could not hold his tears as he stood before the court.
Suddenly, members of the public in court cheered to express their large satisfaction at the judge’s decision.
Also read: Wife of High-Ranking Indonesia Police Official Sentenced to 20 Years in Jail
Bharada E was never been punished and behaved politely in court. He was considered cooperative during the trial, regretted his actions, and the victim’s family has forgiven him.
Bharada E was among the five defendants in the premeditated murder of Brigadier J.
Previously, the court sentenced Ferdy to death, while his wife Putri Candrawathi received 20 years jail term.
Meanwhile, Ferdy’s aide Brigadier Ricky Rizal and Kuat Ma’ruf, who is a driver, were sentenced to 13 years and 15 years in prison, respectively. Previously, the prosecutors charged Ricky and Kuat with an eight-year jail term, respectively, for their role in the murder of Brigadier J.
(Writer: Singgih Wiryono | Editor: Diamanty Meiliana)
