Three Indian nationals arrested for smuggling 106 kg of crystal meth aboard a Singapore-flagged vessel could face death penalty in Indonesia
Three Indian-origin men are facing the death penalty in Indonesia for allegedly smuggling 106 kg of crystal meth aboard a Singapore-flagged cargo vessel. The accused — Raju Muthukumaran (38), Selvadurai Dinakaran (34), and Govindhasamy Vimalkandhan (45) — were arrested during a major drug bust while onboard the Legend Aquarius, reported gujaratsamachar.com.
Legal Setback and Diplomatic Concerns
The trio suffered a significant legal setback on March 14 when the captain of the vessel failed to appear in court, offering only brief testimony via Zoom.
This absence left the defense unable to cross-examine the key witness, which reportedly weakened their case.
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The prosecution has demanded the death penalty, while the defense team argued that the captain should share responsibility as he is in charge of the entire cargo
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They also questioned the likelihood of such a large drug shipment being smuggled without the captain’s knowledge
The Indian government is reportedly aware of the situation, and diplomatic measures may be underway to address concerns over fairness in the trial. The case has raised significant questions about legal processes and the fairness of the proceedings.
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