Palembang, S. Sumatra. Military prosecutors in Palembang are seeking the death penalty for an Indonesian Army corporal convicted of fatally shooting three police officers during a raid on an illegal gambling den in Lampung earlier this year.

Military Prosecutor Lt. Col. Darwin Butar Butar read out the demand for capital punishment against Corporal Bazarsah during a hearing at the Palembang Military Court I-04 on Monday.

Darwin told the court that Bazarsah had been found guilty of premeditated murder, illegal possession of firearms, and involvement in unauthorized gambling activities.

“The defendant has been proven to have violated three primary charges: Article 340 of the Criminal Code on premeditated murder, Article 1 paragraph (1) of Emergency Law No. 12/1951 on illegal firearm possession, and Article 303 in conjunction with Article 55 of the Criminal Code on gambling,” Darwin said.

Prosecutors also requested that Bazarsah be dishonorably discharged from military service, arguing that his actions had not only breached criminal law but also tarnished the reputation of the Indonesian Military (TNI).

“The defendant has brought shame to the TNI, violated the military oath, damaged military discipline, and caused the deaths of three police officers, leaving their families in deep grief,” Darwin added.

During the session, Bazarsah stood quietly in the courtroom, showing no visible emotion or remorse as the prosecution read out the demand.

The brother of the late AKP Lusiyanto, one of the slain officers, said the family supported the prosecution’s request for the death penalty.

“We pray that the final sentence will be the death penalty, as this is the hope of the families of the three officers who died while on duty,” Parwati, Lusiyanto’s sibling, said tearfully.

The victims’ family lawyer, Putri Maya Rumanti, expressed gratitude to the military prosecutors for pursuing the maximum sentence.

“We appreciate the military prosecutors in Palembang for seeking the death penalty, and we hope the judges will uphold this demand,” she said.

The case stems from a March 17 incident when Bazarsah shot and killed three police officers --Lusiyanto, Petrus Apriyanto, and M. Ghalib Surya Ganta—during a raid on an illegal cockfighting operation in Register 44, Karang Manik village, Way Kanan regency, Lampung.

Another soldier, Peltu Yohanes Lubis, has also been charged in the case for allegedly running the illegal gambling venue. He is being tried separately.

The court will reconvene next week to hear the defense’s plea from Bazarsah.

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