Presiding judge Singgih Budi Prakoso said on Wednesday that the appellate bench agreed with the South Jakarta District Court’s February verdict and death sentence, which exceeded the prosecution’s demand of life in prison.

“After the panel of judges at the appellate court reviewed, studied, scrutinized and examined carefully the entire case file [...] the judges are of the opinion that the [South Jakarta District Court ruling] has been thoroughly considered and is legally correct,” Singgih said.

“As such, the memorandum of appeal filed by Ferdy’s lawyers must be set aside […] and the [South Jakarta District Court ruling] against Ferdy can be upheld,” he added.

Among the bench’s considerations were the fact that Ferdy had never admitted to masterminding Yosua’s murder and that he had stuck to his claim that Yosua had assaulted his wife, Putri Chandrawathi, which stood in contrast to the evidence presented by prosecutors during court proceedings.

Singgih also said Ferdy’s death sentence – the first time in decades a police general has been given such a harsh sentence – served as a deterrent and set a precedent that no one was above the law.

Despite losing the high court appeal, which he filed on March 3, Ferdy may still appeal his conviction and sentencing at the Supreme Court.