Jakarta (ANTARA) - The South Jakarta District Court handed, Wednesday, a sentence of one year and six months' imprisonment to the defendant Richard Eliezer (Bharada E) in the premeditated murder case of Brigadier Nofriansyah Yosua Hutabarat (Brigadir J).

"Sentenced the defendant Richard Eliezer with imprisonment for one year and six months," Chief Judge Wahyu Iman Santoso stated during the trial at the South Jakarta District Court on Wednesday.

He noted that Eliezer was legally and convincingly proven guilty of violating Article 340, subsidiary Article 338 juncto Article 55, paragraph (1) 1st of the Criminal Code.

In drafting the decision, the judges took into account aggravating and mitigating factors, while the incriminating aspect was that Eliezer's close relationship with the victim was not valued.

"(In terms of) the mitigating factor, the defendant is a witness to the perpetrators, who cooperated," judiciary panel member Alimin Ribut Sujono stated.

In presenting his considerations, Judge Sujono said the panel of judges concluded that Eliezer had deliberately intended to kill Brigadier J.

This conclusion was motivated by Eliezer's series of actions, such as answering, "Ready, Commander" on having received an order to shoot Brigadier J on the left side of his chest, Sujono stated.

"The series of activities reflected the defendant's inner attitude that was none other than showing intention to kill the victim," he remarked.

Moreover, Sujono stated that the other elements had been fulfilled, especially those of planning in advance and taking other people's lives.

Nonetheless, the panel of judges granted Eliezer the status of justice collaborator that further impacted the judge's decision.

Sujono explained that Eliezer was not the main actor, thereby making it possible for him to obtain the justice collaborator status.

"His honesty, courage, and determination to reveal this case deserved a justice collaborator status or a witness who is willing to cooperate," he remarked.

Eliezer's sentence was lighter than the demands of the public prosecutor on Wednesday, January 18, 2023.

Earlier, during a trial at the South Jakarta District Court, the public prosecutor’s team demanded a 12-year prison sentence to be handed down to Eliezer.

"Sentence the defendant Richard Eliezer Pudihang Lumiu with a prison term of 12 years," prosecutor Paris Manalu stated while reading out the charges before Chief Judge Wahyu Iman Santoso on January 18.

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Translator: Putu Indah S, Resinta S
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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