The panel of judges at the Denpasar District Court, Bali, sentenced a Ukrainian citizen with initials RN to life imprisonment on Thursday, the 18th of September.
RN was found guilty of involvement in a drug laboratory and factory located in a villa in Tibubeneng Village, North Kuta District, Badung Regency, Bali. The panel of judges, chaired by Eni Martiningrum, ruled that RN was legally and convincingly proven guilty of producing mephedrone, as well as growing marijuana at the villa.
These acts, furthermore, are regulated and punishable in Indonesia under Article 113 Paragraph (2) in conjunction with Article 132 Paragraph (1), Article 111 Paragraph (2), and Article 132 Paragraph (1) of Law Number 35 of 2009 concerning Narcotics, as stated in the first primary indictment of the public prosecutor.
“Therefore, the defendant is sentenced to life imprisonment,” said Chief Justice Eni Martiningrum while reading the main verdict on Thursday, the 18th of September.
Previously, RN controlled a drug factory in a villa in the Badung area of Bali. He initiated the construction of a basement in the villa for drug production. Three men, consisting of twins from Ukraine (with initials IV and MV) and a Russian citizen with initials KK, were arrested in Sunny Village. RN and another foreign individual with the initials OT recruited them. The five men communicated through a Telegram group chat. They were members of a drug ring known as Hydra Indonesia.
RN was arrested in Thailand on the 22nd of December, 2024, along with evidence that included a laptop, cell phone, helmet, and other items related to this case. IV and MV had previously been sentenced to 20 years in prison. Meanwhile, OT is still being sought by the police.
Martiningrum also stated that RN’s crimes were proven to be premeditated. This was demonstrated by the fact that RN trained others to produce narcotics. Moreover, RN was also a member of an international criminal organisation.
“[RN] provided consultation and joined a criminal organisation — the elements of criminal conspiracy. Therefore, the elements of intent and execution, although not completed, are deemed to have been fulfilled,” added the Chief Justice.