Jakarta – A former Inspector General of the Indonesian police has been sentenced to death for orchestrating the premeditated murder of his personal bodyguard, a case that has drawn significant public attention for months.
Ferdy Sambo, who previously served as the Head of Internal Affairs for the Indonesian Police, received the sentence from a panel of three judges after standing trial since October last year.
Judge Wahyu Iman Santoso, while delivering the verdict, stated that Sambo was proven guilty beyond doubt of planning and executing the crime.
Prosecution and Defense Reactions
Prosecutors had initially sought a life imprisonment sentence for Sambo. However, the court imposed the maximum penalty instead.
Meanwhile, Sambo’s lawyer, Arman Hanis, told reporters that they would carefully review the ruling but did not confirm whether an appeal would be filed.
Background of the Case
The victim, identified as 27-year-old Brigadier Nopryansyah Yosua Hutabarat, was initially reported to have died in a shootout with another officer at Sambo’s residence last year.
During the trial, Sambo argued that the killing was unplanned and driven by rage, claiming that Hutabarat had sexually assaulted his wife. However, the panel of judges dismissed this claim due to a lack of supporting evidence.
Investigations revealed that Sambo had instructed a subordinate to shoot Hutabarat before firing additional shots himself while the victim was already injured.
Following the incident in July last year, Sambo was officially named a suspect and later arrested in August. By September, he had been dismissed from the police force, leading to months of trial proceedings before the final verdict was delivered.
Public and Legal Implications
Sambo now has one week to file an appeal against the ruling.
During the court session, Hutabarat’s mother was present, holding a photograph of her late son. The sentencing shocked many in attendance, as few had expected the court to impose the death penalty.
Initially, police reports suggested that Hutabarat had been killed by another officer after allegedly assaulting Sambo’s wife. However, further investigations led to the arrest of both Sambo and his wife.
Authorities also reported that security camera footage from the crime scene had gone missing. However, the court determined that the footage had been deliberately erased by one of Sambo’s subordinates.
Legal experts and activists believe that Sambo’s prior role as a high-ranking law enforcement officer may have influenced the severity of his punishment. His actions were seen as a betrayal of the justice system, severely tarnishing the reputation of law enforcement and the government.
