Dian Kuswandini, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Wed, 09/17/2008 10:32 AM | National
A witness on Tuesday testified that the alleged plot to murder prominent human rights campaigner Munir Said Thalib was linked to the State Intelligence Agency (BIN).
Indra Setiawan, former Garuda Indonesia president director, said during the trial of former BIN deputy head Muchdi Purwopranjono that he had assigned ex-pilot Pollycarpus Budihari Priyanto to be a corporate security officer following a special request by the BIN.
"I received an official letter with a BIN logo on the envelope and letterhead, classified as *secret' and signed by (former) deputy chief M. As'ad," Indra told the South Jakarta District Court.
"The letter said Garuda needed to raise its security by deploying more corporate security staff. I agreed to the request because it came from the BIN, a high-level state institution."
Indra's testimony differed to previous statements he made during the trial of Pollycarpus, who was sentenced to 20 years for premeditated murder. At that time, Indra said he had assigned Pollycarpus on his own initiative.
"I can't disclose the reason (why I didn't tell the truth). But I have gone through a lot through in this (murder) case, so I decided to tell the truth," said Indra, who has already spent a year in prison for assigning Pollycarpus to the same flight as Munir.
On Sept. 7, 2004, Munir was found dead on board a Garuda flight to Amsterdam. The cause of death was arsenic poisoning, administered during a stopover in Singapore's Changi Airport.
Muchdi's defense team criticized Indra for his decision to reveal the letter despite its "secret" status, but Indra insisted he had to tell the truth.
However, Indra said the BIN letter went missing after someone broke into his car and stole his bag, including the letter within, on Dec. 31, 2004.
"Later, in a conversation with As'ad, I asked him about the letter and he said, *Just pretend it's already extinguished'," Indra said, adding the conversation took place in the toilet of a hotel in March 2005.
Indra's earlier testimony also linked the alleged murder plot with the BIN. He said that during his phone conversations with Pollycarpus, the two had used several nicknames to refer to top BIN officials.
"Pollycarpus said we shouldn't use (real) names but codes, when referring to the officials," Indra said.
"Joker was for (former BIN chief) Hendropriyono; Ace for As'ad -- it was later changed to Asmini -- and Bu Avi for (former BIN deputy chief) Muchdi."
State prosecutors later asked the panel of judges to replay a tapped phone conversation. However, presiding judge Suharto said he would allow it only if the court found any discrepancies between Indra's and Pollycarpus' testimonies.
Munir's widow Suciwati also testified Tuesday, saying her family had received many threats that, according to Munir, came from the Army's Special Forces (Kopassus).
"In 2001, someone sent a bomb to my husband's parents' home in Malang (East Java). According to police, it was a highly explosive one," Suciwati said.
"After Muchdi's dismissal as Kopassus commander, my husband reminded me we should be on alert for any possible threats."
The threats continued even after Munir's death, Suciwati added.
"I received a box containing a chicken's head, feet and droppings. The box also had a note that read, 'Don't involve the military in your husband's murder, or you'll be the next (victim)'."
A witness on Tuesday testified that the alleged plot to murder prominent human rights campaigner Munir Said Thalib was linked to the State Intelligence Agency (BIN).
Indra Setiawan, former Garuda Indonesia president director, said during the trial of former BIN deputy head Muchdi Purwopranjono that he had assigned ex-pilot Pollycarpus Budihari Priyanto to be a corporate security officer following a special request by the BIN.
"I received an official letter with a BIN logo on the envelope and letterhead, classified as *secret' and signed by (former) deputy chief M. As'ad," Indra told the South Jakarta District Court.
"The letter said Garuda needed to raise its security by deploying more corporate security staff. I agreed to the request because it came from the BIN, a high-level state institution."
Indra's testimony differed to previous statements he made during the trial of Pollycarpus, who was sentenced to 20 years for premeditated murder. At that time, Indra said he had assigned Pollycarpus on his own initiative.
"I can't disclose the reason (why I didn't tell the truth). But I have gone through a lot through in this (murder) case, so I decided to tell the truth," said Indra, who has already spent a year in prison for assigning Pollycarpus to the same flight as Munir.
On Sept. 7, 2004, Munir was found dead on board a Garuda flight to Amsterdam. The cause of death was arsenic poisoning, administered during a stopover in Singapore's Changi Airport.
Muchdi's defense team criticized Indra for his decision to reveal the letter despite its "secret" status, but Indra insisted he had to tell the truth.
However, Indra said the BIN letter went missing after someone broke into his car and stole his bag, including the letter within, on Dec. 31, 2004.
"Later, in a conversation with As'ad, I asked him about the letter and he said, *Just pretend it's already extinguished'," Indra said, adding the conversation took place in the toilet of a hotel in March 2005.
Indra's earlier testimony also linked the alleged murder plot with the BIN. He said that during his phone conversations with Pollycarpus, the two had used several nicknames to refer to top BIN officials.
"Pollycarpus said we shouldn't use (real) names but codes, when referring to the officials," Indra said.
"Joker was for (former BIN chief) Hendropriyono; Ace for As'ad -- it was later changed to Asmini -- and Bu Avi for (former BIN deputy chief) Muchdi."
State prosecutors later asked the panel of judges to replay a tapped phone conversation. However, presiding judge Suharto said he would allow it only if the court found any discrepancies between Indra's and Pollycarpus' testimonies.
Munir's widow Suciwati also testified Tuesday, saying her family had received many threats that, according to Munir, came from the Army's Special Forces (Kopassus).
"In 2001, someone sent a bomb to my husband's parents' home in Malang (East Java). According to police, it was a highly explosive one," Suciwati said.
"After Muchdi's dismissal as Kopassus commander, my husband reminded me we should be on alert for any possible threats."
The threats continued even after Munir's death, Suciwati added.
"I received a box containing a chicken's head, feet and droppings. The box also had a note that read, 'Don't involve the military in your husband's murder, or you'll be the next (victim)'."
