Maruli Simanjuntak defends military law rigor and vows strict discipline

General Maruli Simanjuntak, Deputy Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces, has stated that military legal regulations are significantly stricter than those in general courts. Responding to a request from the Constitutional Court to have soldiers who commit crimes tried in general courts, Simanjuntak noted that military sentences can include life imprisonment, a penalty he suggested is less common in civilian courts.

Separately, Simanjuntak addressed disciplinary issues within the Army, vowing strict action against soldiers who violate regulations. This follows an incident involving Lieutenant Colonel Arman, who is currently detained by Military Police after a service residence in Cijantung was allegedly rented out and used as an operational hub for online gambling. Simanjuntak emphasized that the Army will not tolerate such violations, aligning with President Prabowo Subianto’s focus on combating online gambling.