Panel of Judges' Verdict and Indictment in Ronald Tannur Case Do Not Yet Reflect Justice

SURABAYA, KOMPAS - The murder case of Dini Sera Afrianti, also known as Andini, by Gregorius Ronald Tannur has implicated the convicted perpetrator, family members, lawyers, judges, the former Chief of the Surabaya District Court, and officials from the Supreme Court.

In this case, the Supreme Court has imposed a cassation sentence of 5 years in prison for Ronald Tannur on December 19, 2024. On May 8, 2025, the Jakarta Corruption Court sentenced the panel of judges of the Surabaya District Court who acquitted Ronald Tannur.

The panel of judges for the defendants consists of Mangapul and Erintuah Damanik, who received a sentence of 7 years in prison. Additionally, there is Heru Hanindyo, who is still considering an appeal regarding the 10-year prison sentence. The verdicts are below the demands of the public prosecutor, which were 9 years in prison for Erintuah Damanik and Mangapul, and 12 years in prison for Heru Hanindyo.

On Monday (19/5/2025), the Jakarta Corruption Court began hearing the case of former Surabaya District Court Chairman Rudi Suparmono. He was charged with receiving bribes from Lisa Rachmat, the lawyer of Ronald Tannur, to influence the panel of judges handling Ronald Tannur's case.

Rudi is charged with multiple violations of Law Number 20 of 2001 as an amendment to Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Corruption and the Criminal Code, with a penalty of life imprisonment or a maximum term of 20 years.

The Jakarta Corruption Court also tried Meirizka Widjaja, the mother of Ronald Tannur; Lisa Rachmat, Ronald Tannur's lawyer; and Zarof Ricar, an employee of the Supreme Court involved in bribery and case manipulation, including for Ronald Tannur.

"We believe that the decisions of the Supreme Court and the Corruption Court (Jakarta) regarding Ronald Tannur and the panel of judges at the Surabaya District Court are far from the justice expected by the family of the late Andini," said Dimas Yemahura Alfarauq, the lawyer for Andini's family from the Damar Indonesia Legal Aid Institute in Surabaya, on Monday evening.

The verdict is far from a sense of justice as it is considered lenient, with only 5 years for the convicted Ronald Tannur. In addition, the sentences received by Mangapul and Erintuah Damanik, as well as the possibility of an appeal by Heru Hanindyo, are also noteworthy.

"The verdict below the prosecutor's demands, even the impact of the panel of judges' decision that initially acquitted Ronald Tannur, has proven to damage the reputation of the judiciary in Indonesia," said Dimas. One of the three Supreme Court judges who decided the cassation turned out to have a dissenting opinion, namely agreeing with the acquittal verdict at the Surabaya District Court.

According to Dimas, due to the dissenting opinion situation, the family lawyer reported to the Judicial Commission in the hope that the supreme judge who approved Ronald Tannur's acquittal would be examined. However, until now, the family lawyer has not received any information on the progress of the examination.

In addition, the stance of Mangapul and Erintuah Damanik, who accepted the 7-year prison sentence, according to Dimas, reflects the weak seriousness of the state in combating corruption within the judiciary. The two judges, who are at risk of being dismissed, have already benefited from bribes, and the verdicts in corruption cases do not include clauses for asset forfeiture.

"Indeed, the victims come from underprivileged families. We believe that distant justice will complicate the lives of the poor, who should not have to deal with the law. Even in death, the law distances itself from them, as experienced by the deceased," said Dimas.

As reported, Rudi Suparmono has been charged with receiving a gratification bribe amounting to 43,000 Singapore dollars to arrange for the panel of judges handling the case of Ronald Tannur. The bribe was received from Lisa Rachmat, the lawyer for Ronald Tannur.

During his tenure as the Chairman of the Surabaya District Court, Rudi Suparmono was also known to have received various gratuities to manipulate case handling. According to the prosecutor's indictment, the total amount of bribes received by the defendant reached Rp 21 billion.

Dean of the Faculty of Law, Muhammadiyah University of Surabaya, Satria Unggul Wicaksana Prakasa once said that what the judges did in the Ronald Tannur case was contempt of court. This is an effort that makes judges not really seek justice for the community but are involved in corruption.

"It signifies the deterioration of the moral integrity of law enforcement, belittling and insulting the integrity of judges and the judiciary," said Satria. Therefore, in the trial at the Jakarta Corruption Court, those judges should be subjected to severe penalties that reflect a commitment to law enforcement and the eradication of corruption. Lenient sentences distance the sense of justice.