Three Indian Nationals Face Death Penalty in Indonesia, Legal Proceedings Draw Diplomatic Concern

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JAKARTA, Investortrust.id – Three Indian nationals—Raju Muthukumaran, Selvadurai Dinakaran, and Govindasamy Vimalkandan—are facing the death penalty in Indonesia after the High Court upheld their conviction for alleged drug trafficking.

The ruling, confirmed on Friday, June 20, 2025, has sparked concern in New Delhi over potential human rights violations and procedural flaws during the trial process. The Indian ambassador has formally called for a reexamination of the case and urged Indonesian authorities to reopen the investigation.

“We have full faith in the Indonesian judicial system. We believe that the due process should be followed. We have noticed several inconsistencies in the investigation and all evidence including cell phone records have not been examined. Death sentence is a harsh verdict and may be awarded in the rarest of rare cases with irrefutable proof," said H. E. Sandeep Chakravorty, Ambassador of India to Indonesia.

"In this case we call upon re-examination of the evidence and reopening of the investigation and all witnesses including the captain of the ship and other crew must be thoroughly examined,” Chakravorty said.

The three men were arrested on Sunday, July 14, 2024, aboard the Legend Aquarius, a Singapore-flagged vessel, near Karimun Island in Indonesia’s Riau Islands. They were found guilty by the Tanjung Balai Karimun District Court and sentenced to death—a verdict later affirmed by the High Court despite multiple legal appeals. 

According to India’s diplomatic mission, the case has drawn scrutiny due to alleged mishandling by Indonesian authorities from the time of arrest to the trial proceedings. 

Certificate of clearance issued by Singapore Police for Govindasamy Vimalkandan. Photo: Provided by the Embasy of India in Jakarta.

 

 

Experienced Sailors Hired for Technical Mission

The defendants had reportedly worked in Singapore’s maritime industry for between 10 and 17 years as a mechanic, electrical technician, and vessel repair manager. They were contracted by a Singaporean national, identified as Sekhar, to deliver the Legend Aquarius to Australia. Owing to their technical expertise, the men were offered higher pay than their regular positions.

They received a $3,000 advance for urgent travel expenses and boarded the ship in Johor, Malaysia, on Wednesday, July 10, 2024. After assisting with logistical loading, the vessel crossed into Indonesian waters on Saturday, July 13, when Indonesian authorities boarded and arrested the trio on suspicion of drug trafficking.

Certificate of clearance issued by Singapore Police for Selvadurai Dinakaran. Photo: Provided by the Embasy of India in Jakarta.

 

Unfair Trial and Evidence Gaps

Bijay criticized the lack of qualified interpreters during court proceedings, which severely hampered communication between the defendants and the judicial panel. “Complex questions were oversimplified, responses were incomplete, and the men were often limited to answering ‘yes’ or ‘no’.”

The court also reportedly dismissed key factual inconsistencies, such as the absence of the ship’s captain and chief engineer—both crucial witnesses—from the trial.

“No direct evidence ties these men to the narcotics. Yet this fact was brushed aside by the court,” said Bijay.

Furthermore, none of the other crew members, including those in charge of the cargo or the captain himself, were named as suspects or questioned during the investigation. No medical exams were conducted after the arrest, nor prior to their interrogations—fueling allegations of abuse and criminal targeting.

Certificate of clearance issued by Singapore Police for Raju Muthukumaran. Photo: Provided by the Embasy of India in Jakarta.

 

Diplomatic Pressure and Human Rights Concerns

The case has raised alarms in New Delhi about the treatment of foreign nationals within Indonesia’s legal system and the importance of upholding basic legal rights and procedural fairness.

“The Indian government, through its diplomatic channels, continues to press for legal and humanitarian support for the three citizens, ensuring that justice is served and human rights are respected,” Bijay said.