Indonesia court sentences former police general to death over murder plot

By Reuters February 13, 2023 | 04:37 pm PT

Ferdy Sambo, a former Indonesian police general accused in a murder case, attends his trial at South Jakarta District Court in Jakarta, Indonesia, February 13, 2023. Photo by Reuters

An Indonesian court on Monday sentenced a former police general to death for orchestrating the murder of his bodyguard, in a case that has gripped the Southeast Asian country for months.

Ferdy Sambo, an ex-inspector general and head of internal affairs with the national police whose trial began in October, appeared before a panel of three judges at a court in Jakarta.

Sambo has been "proven legally and convincingly guilty of committing the crime of participating in premeditated murder," Judge Wahyu Iman Santoso said while reading out the ruling.

Prosecutors had called for a life sentence.

Sambo's lawyer Arman Hanis told reporters his legal team will study the ruling but declined to say whether it would appeal.

Sambo has been "proven legally and convincingly guilty of committing the crime of participating in premeditated murder," Judge Wahyu Iman Santoso said while reading out the ruling.

Prosecutors had called for a life sentence.

Sambo's lawyer Arman Hanis told reporters his legal team will study the ruling but declined to say whether it would appeal.