Priyanto Tarnishes the Image of the TNI

KOMPAS/AGUS SUSANTO

Kolonel (Inf) Priyanto bersiap mendengarkan vonis kasus pembuangan korban kecelakaan Handi dan Salsabila di Pengadilan Militer Tinggi II Jakarta di Jakarta Timur, Selasa (7/6/2022). Majelis hakim memvonis Kolonel (Inf) Priyanto dengan hukuman seumur hidup dan dipecat dari TNI AD. Priyanto dinilai terbukti bersalah melakukan pembunuhan berencana, merampas hak orang lain, dan menghilangkan mayat. Priyanto bersama dua anak buahnya membuang tubuh Handi dan Salsabila ke Sungai Serayu, Jawa Tengah setelah menabraknya di Nagreg, Kabupaten Bandung, Jawa Barat. KOMPAS/AGUS SUSANTO (AGS) 7-5-2022

The premeditated murder carried out by Col. Priyanto was not deemed to reflect humanity. Furthermore, his crime can also damage the relationship between the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the people.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — Col. Priyanto was sentenced to life in prison after being proven guilty of the premeditated murder of Handi Saputra and Salsabila in a traffic accident in Nagreg, Bandung regency, West Java. Besides violating the law, the defendant's actions were considered inhumane, tarnishing the image of the TNI, and damaging public order, security and peace.

In addition to the life sentence, Priyanto was also dismissed from military service, Chief Justice Brig. Gen. Faridah Faisal said during the former’s trial at the Jakarta High Military Court II on Tuesday (7/6/2022).

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The sentence handed down by a panel of judges consisting of Col. Suryadi Syamsir and Col. Mirtusin was the same as that demanded by the military prosecutor. However, the judges used a different evidence article from the prosecutor's demand.

In her verdict, Faridah said that Priyanto, the head of the Intelligence Section of the 133/Nani Wartabone Gorontalo Military Resort Command, was proven guilty of conducting premeditated murder, depriving other people of their freedom and removing corpses with the intention of hiding their death. The act was proven to violate Article 340 of the Criminal Code, Article 338 of the Criminal Code, Article 328 of the Criminal Code, Article 333 of the Criminal Code and Article 181 of the Criminal Code in conjunction with Article 55 Paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code.

The premeditated murder began when the car in which Priyanto was traveling with his former subordinates, namely Lance Corporal (Kopda) Ahmad and Lance Corporal Dwi Andreas, crashed into a motorbike driven by Handi and Salsabila in Nagreg on 8 December, 2021. Instead of being helped, the two victims were taken away and dumped into the Serayu River, Central Java.

MACHRADIN WAHYUDI RITONGA

Army Chief of Staff (KSAD) General TNI Dudung Abdurachman (center) performs a flower-laying ceremony at Salsabila's grave (14) with Salsabila's father, Jajang (right), Nagreg District, Bandung Regency, West Java, Monday (27/12/2021). Salsabila was the victim of a collision between three members of the Indonesian Army in Nagreg, December 8, 2021.

During the trial, it was revealed that the disposal of the bodies of Handi and Salsabila was Priyanto's idea. He also rejected Ahmad's suggestion to take the two victims to the community health center (Puskesmas), which they passed on their way from Nagreg to Yogyakarta. He even asked the two of his colleagues to keep the incident a secret.

The panel of judges assessed that Priyanto did intend to eliminate any traces of the crime, showing he no longer cared about the safety and lives of others. This murder also caused prolonged suffering and trauma for the victims’ families.

Inhumane

The judges said Priyanto's actions could harm the image of the TNI and damage the good relationship between the TNI and the people. Priyanto's actions also did not reflect the emphasis on humanity highlighted in Pancasila.

"Considering that the defendant's actions were so severe, they affected the psychological condition of the community in general, and in particular the victim's family, so the punishment must be commensurate with his actions," said Farida.

However, Priyanto's 28-year service in the military and the fact that he had never been jailed for a crime nor disciplined were a factor in his evading the death sentence. In addition, during the trial, he also expressed regret for his actions.

Priyanto denied having carried out the premeditated murder and kidnapping of Handi and Salsabila.

After the verdict was read out, Priyanto, who was listening in a standing position throughout the trial, asked for time to think about the decision. In his plea read on 10 May, Priyanto denied having carried out the premeditated murder and kidnapping of Handi and Salsabila.

Similar to the defendant, military prosecutor Col. Wirdel Boy also stated that he would think about the decision of the panel of judges. Although the sentence that was decided was the same as the demand put forward by the prosecutor, the articles of evidence used by the judges were different. The prosecutor charged the defendant with premeditated murder, kidnapping, and concealing death. (NIA)

(This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo)