From the Jak Pos, Cilacap, Central Java, Wed, May 25 2016
Indonesian death-row convict Freddy Budiman has appealed his death sentence for a second time amid rumors that he is among those expected to be executed in coming weeks on Nusakambangan prison island.
The drug lord was accompanied by his legal team at a hearing at the Cilacap District Court in Central Java on the appeal against his death sentence. He has appealed on the grounds that his accomplices received lighter sentences.
Freddy's lawyer said his client should not have been given the death sentence because the judge at the previous hearing on the appeal, held at the Supreme Court, had said Freddy was just as guilty as his accomplices in the drug case even though they were not given the same sentence.
"So then why did Freddy Budiman receive the death sentence when the others didn't? This is the point of our objection in this appeal. We ask that our client not be sentenced to death," lawyer Untung Sunaryo told journalists on Wednesday.
Security during the hearing was tight, with about 150 Cilacap Police officers guarding the premises.
Police also escorted Freddy, who was wearing a white outfit and a black cap, during the crossing from the Nusakambangan prison island, located approximately 4 kilometers from the Cilacap District Court.
As previously reported, Freddy Budiman's appeal was scheduled for early May at the West Jakarta District Court. However, since Freddy had been moved to Nusakambangan, his legal team asked for the trial to be held in Cilacap, Central Java, which was agree to.
"Because he's at Pasir Putih Penitentiary, Freddy's team proposed the relocation of the hearing, which was moved to the Cilacap District Court," West Jakarta Prosecutor’s Office head Reda Manthovani told journalists.
Reda said despite the trial being held in Cilacap, prosecutors handling the case were from the West Jakarta Prosecutor’s Office.
Meanwhile, the Cilacap District Court assembled a panel of judges for the hearing, consisting of presiding judge Catur Prasetyo and judges Vilia Sari and Cokia Ana Pontia.
Freddy Budiman was arrested on April 28, 2011 by the Jakarta Police for attempting to smuggle 1.4 million ecstasy pills into the country from China. Five months after his arrest, Freddy was handed the death sentence by the West Jakarta District Court.
Throughout November 2012 until July 2013, he was incarcerated at Cipinang Penitentiary, a prison for drug convicts.
After being caught selling drugs from his cell, he was moved to Batu Penitentiary, Nusakambangan in 2013. He is allegedly still involved in the distribution of illegal drugs from his current location.
A year ago, he reportedly pledged allegiance to the Islamic State ( IS ) group due to his close affiliation to terrorism convicts on Nusakambangan.
*
wo 25 mei 2016 - 23:02