An Indian-origin trio is reportedly set to face the death penalty in Indonesia for smuggling crystal meth on Singapore-flagged cargo vessel.

The accused — Raju Muthukumaran (38), Selvadurai Dinakaran (34), and Govindhasamy Vimalkandhan (45) — were arrested for allegedly smuggling 106 kg of crystal meth aboard the Legend Aquarius, a Singapore-flagged cargo vessel, as per reports.

The trio faced a major legal setback on March 14 when the vessel’s captain failed to appear in court, instead providing only a brief testimony via Zoom. His absence prevented the defense from cross-examining him, which allegedly weakened their case.

Prosecutors demanded the death penalty, while the defense argued that the captain, who is responsible for all cargo onboard, should also be held accountable. The defense also contended that it is unlikely for such a large quantity of drugs to be smuggled without the captain’s knowledge.

The case has sparked concerns about legal fairness, as the absence of a key witness may have influenced the court’s decision. The Indian government has reportedly taken note of the situation, and diplomatic efforts may be underway.