Nabire prosecutors seek maximum 10-year sentence for juvenile murder suspect

Prosecutors at the Nabire District Attorney's Office have demanded a 10-year prison sentence for a juvenile, identified by the initials AWS, accused of the premeditated murder of a junior high school student in Nabire, Central Papua. The 10-year demand represents the maximum penalty allowed under the Juvenile Criminal Justice System (SPPA) for offenders under the age of majority, despite the primary charge of premeditated murder under the Criminal Code which typically carries much harsher penalties for adults.

Nancy Karolin Worabay, Chairperson of the Nabire District Regional House of Representatives (DPRK), attended the hearing to support the victim's family. While acknowledging that the 10-year sentence is the legal maximum for a minor, Worabay emphasized that the family remains deeply unsatisfied due to the permanent loss of their child. She urged the court to uphold this maximum sentence and not reduce it.

The legal proceedings are moving toward the defense stage, where the defendant and their counsel will present their arguments before the judges deliver a final verdict. The victim's family has also expressed hope that any suspected sexual violence related to the case will be uncovered during the trial.