Dian Kuswandini, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Fri, 08/22/2008 10:24 AM | Headlines
Former top intelligence official Muchdi Purwopranjono premeditated the 2004 murder of human rights activist Munir Said Thalib out of ill will and revenge, a court heard Thursday.
Prosecutors said in their indictment that former State Intelligence Agency (BIN) deputy chief Muchdi sought revenge against Munir, who was deemed responsible for the defendant's ouster as the Army's Special Forces (Kopassus) chief only 52 days after his inauguration in 1998.
"The dismissal was a slap in the face of Muchdi because it put his military career to an end and hurt him personally, causing him to seek revenge," prosecutor Cirus Sinaga told the packed South Jakarta District Court.
Munir had led an investigation by the Commission on Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) rights group into the involvement of Kopassus soldiers in the abduction of 13 activists critical of the government between 1997 and 1998. The elite force members, grouped under the Rose Team, were eventually found guilty by the military court.
Some 180 police officers were deployed to secure the court hearing. Dozens of Muchdi's supporters from the Indonesian Red and White Brigade rallied outside the courtroom, saying Muchdi was a victim of foreign intervention.
Prosecutors said Muchdi's posting to the BIN position in 2003 had allowed him to plan measures to stop Munir's activities in criticizing the government and investigating human rights abuses.
As a high-ranking official at the BIN, Muchdi misused his power when he recruited former Garuda pilot Pollycarpus Budihari Priyanto to carry out the plan, prosecutors said.
Muchdi placed Pollycarpus as an aviation security member on a Garuda flight so he could travel with Munir.
Pollycarpus was sentenced to 20 years in prison for his role in the murder.
Prosecutors quoted the testimony of a BIN agent, Budi Santoso, who said he was told by Pollycarpus that the latter had been ordered by Muchdi to kill Munir.
Muchdi, prosecutors said, had paid Pollycarpus Rp 10 million on June 14, 2004, at his office at the BIN headquarters. Later, he also paid Rp 4 million and another Rp 3 million. They also said Muchdi had given facilities to Pollycarpus, including in the making of a classified letter asking him to be assigned as a security crew member for Munir's flight to Amsterdam on Sept. 6, 2004.
The next day, Munir was found dead from arsenic poisoning administered during a stopover at Singapore's Changi Airport. The assignment letter had been reported missing, but the Attorney General's Office (AGO) has said it now has it in hand.
In his testimony, Budi said that after the murder, Pollycarpus phoned him, saying "(I) got a 'big fish' in Singapore." When Budi asked whether Pollycarpus had told Muchdi, Pollycarpus said he had, the indictment says.
Prosecutors charged Muchdi with Article 55 of the Criminal Code on premeditated murder, which carries a maximum penalty of death. But they prepared two classifications on Muchdi's role in the murder, charging the former spy with either suggesting others commit a murder or premeditating the assassination himself.
Muchdi's wife and daughter were present in the courtroom. They shook their heads several times as prosecutors read Muchdi's motives over the murder.
Upon arriving at the district court, Muchdi was taken to a prosecutor's room, instead of a detention room, at the request of one of his lawyers.
The court will hear Muchdi's rebuttal on Aug. 2.
Former top intelligence official Muchdi Purwopranjono premeditated the 2004 murder of human rights activist Munir Said Thalib out of ill will and revenge, a court heard Thursday.
Prosecutors said in their indictment that former State Intelligence Agency (BIN) deputy chief Muchdi sought revenge against Munir, who was deemed responsible for the defendant's ouster as the Army's Special Forces (Kopassus) chief only 52 days after his inauguration in 1998.
"The dismissal was a slap in the face of Muchdi because it put his military career to an end and hurt him personally, causing him to seek revenge," prosecutor Cirus Sinaga told the packed South Jakarta District Court.
Munir had led an investigation by the Commission on Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) rights group into the involvement of Kopassus soldiers in the abduction of 13 activists critical of the government between 1997 and 1998. The elite force members, grouped under the Rose Team, were eventually found guilty by the military court.
Some 180 police officers were deployed to secure the court hearing. Dozens of Muchdi's supporters from the Indonesian Red and White Brigade rallied outside the courtroom, saying Muchdi was a victim of foreign intervention.
Prosecutors said Muchdi's posting to the BIN position in 2003 had allowed him to plan measures to stop Munir's activities in criticizing the government and investigating human rights abuses.
As a high-ranking official at the BIN, Muchdi misused his power when he recruited former Garuda pilot Pollycarpus Budihari Priyanto to carry out the plan, prosecutors said.
Muchdi placed Pollycarpus as an aviation security member on a Garuda flight so he could travel with Munir.
Pollycarpus was sentenced to 20 years in prison for his role in the murder.
Prosecutors quoted the testimony of a BIN agent, Budi Santoso, who said he was told by Pollycarpus that the latter had been ordered by Muchdi to kill Munir.
Muchdi, prosecutors said, had paid Pollycarpus Rp 10 million on June 14, 2004, at his office at the BIN headquarters. Later, he also paid Rp 4 million and another Rp 3 million. They also said Muchdi had given facilities to Pollycarpus, including in the making of a classified letter asking him to be assigned as a security crew member for Munir's flight to Amsterdam on Sept. 6, 2004.
The next day, Munir was found dead from arsenic poisoning administered during a stopover at Singapore's Changi Airport. The assignment letter had been reported missing, but the Attorney General's Office (AGO) has said it now has it in hand.
In his testimony, Budi said that after the murder, Pollycarpus phoned him, saying "(I) got a 'big fish' in Singapore." When Budi asked whether Pollycarpus had told Muchdi, Pollycarpus said he had, the indictment says.
Prosecutors charged Muchdi with Article 55 of the Criminal Code on premeditated murder, which carries a maximum penalty of death. But they prepared two classifications on Muchdi's role in the murder, charging the former spy with either suggesting others commit a murder or premeditating the assassination himself.
Muchdi's wife and daughter were present in the courtroom. They shook their heads several times as prosecutors read Muchdi's motives over the murder.
Upon arriving at the district court, Muchdi was taken to a prosecutor's room, instead of a detention room, at the request of one of his lawyers.
The court will hear Muchdi's rebuttal on Aug. 2.