Roman Nazarenko (42), a Ukrainian arrested in Bali for operating an illicit drug factory in North Kuta, has heard prosecutors call for life imprisonment at a court proceeding in Denpasar on Thursday, 28 August 2025.
As reported by Kompas.com, Prosecutors claim they have proven Roman’s guilt in operating a narcotics laboratory and manufacturing center in the Village of Tibubeneng, North Kuta Utara, Bali.
During the most recent court proceeding, State Prosecutor Ryan Mahardika demanded a life sentence for the Ukrainian for his flagrant violations of Sections 132 and 111 of Indonesia’s Anti-Narcotics Law. The harsh sentence is being sought because Roman’s crimes were in opposition to Indonesia’s official anti-narcotics campaign and also threatened future generation of young Indonesians.
Prosecutors alleged that Roman’s answers before the Court were evasive and failed to admit his crime openly. Conversely, the Court stated that in the defendant’s mitigation, Roman behaved politely throughout his trial.
Roman and his attorney have informed the Court that they intend to appeal any life sentence demanded by the prosecutors. The appeal process in Indonesia permits a sentence to be abolished, lessened, or even enhanced, which would mean a possible death sentence could be imposed on appeal.
Roman told the press after his sentencing that the State Prosecutor was wrong in depicting him as the mastermind of the operation of the narcotics factory. “I was not the boss,” he said. The Ukrainian’s attorney, Aditya Fatra, said his client was disappointed that Prosecutors had failed to consider some key factors in the trial, including mitigating testimony from two others charged in connection with the factory: Ivan Volovod (32) and Mykyta Volovod (32).
Ivan Volovod and Mykyta Volovod, who are Ukrainian twin brothers, were arrested by Bali Police at the alleged narcotics factory. Tried separately, the twins received a lesser sentence of only 20 years in prison on Thursday, 23 January 2025.
Police and prosecutors contend that the illegal drug manufacturing center commenced operations in 2021, producing mephendrom, netting US$10,000 profit per kilogram, and marijuana selling at US$3,000 per kilogram. By 2022, the location had become a sophisticated, well-equipped narcotics factory replete with imported machinery and technology.
Police raided the factory on 2 May 2024, arresting the twins, Mykyta and Ivan, on site. Meanwhile, Roman went on the run to Thailand, where he was arrested in December 2024.
Related Links
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Police Bust Illicit Drug Factory in Bali
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