Three Indian nationals arrested in Indonesia on drug trafficking charges are facing the death penalty, media has reported. All the accused were from Tamil Nadu and worked in the shipping business in Singapore, where Raju Muthukumaran (38), Selvadurai Dinakaran (34) and Govindhasamy Vimalkandhan (45) had apparently been working.
Indonesian authorities made their arrests in July 2024 after intercepting the Singapore-flagged cargo vessel Legend Aquarius in the Pongkar waters of Karimun district, on the other side of the island, from Singapore by ferry. On a tip, the law enforcement found 106 kg of crystal meth hidden on board the vessel. The huge haul has led to charges of serious drug trafficking — the death penalty is allowed under Indonesian law.
Legal proceedings have been complicated. On March 14, the court summoned the vessel’s captain to appear in person to testify. Both the prosecution and defense wanted to cross-examine him, and his testimony was considered crucial to the case. However, the captain failed to turn up in person in court and only logged on briefly via Zoom. It did not allow the defense team to successfully cross-examine the accused trio, and this was a result of this that disappointed the accused trio’s motive.
The captain’s testimony was hoped to clear the key details about the cargo and the Indian nationals’ alleged involvement in the case. With doubts and unanswered questions, the defendants are left under pressure without the chance to question him directly.
The penalties for drug trafficking are severe, and the death sentence is likely in Indonesia, a country with a tough stance on crime. The three Indians are undergoing a high-profile international case awaiting their fate as the trial continues.
Join our whatsapp group for Latest updates
Click Here for Chhattisgarh News
Click Here for Entertainment News