Dian Kuswandini, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Fri, 10/10/2008 10:44 AM | Headlines
Another key witness in the murder conspiracy trial of former State Intelligence Agency (BIN) deputy chief Muchdi Purwopranjono gave confusing testimony, sparking laughter from courtroom observers.
Former BIN junior agent Raden M. Padma Anwar failed Thursday to recall his previous statements made for the police investigative file about four months ago. He claimed he did not remember many things, including his own position and salary at the agency.
He was testifying at the trial of Muchdi, accused of ordering the murder of human rights activist Munir.
"I don't remember," said Padma, known as Ucok, in response to questions from the judges about the time he worked for BIN.
"I can only remember (late former chief of the Intelligence Coordinating Agency) Arie Kumaat who asked me to cooperate with him between 2000 and 2001," he said further.
In his dossier Padma had stated he was a junior agent for BIN as assigned in an official recruitment letter. He had also said he was equipped with two guns and paid a monthly salary of Rp 1.5 million (US$156).
When the prosecutors reviewed his statements in the dossier for verification, Padma insisted he had forgotten. "Hey, I've never seen a gun in my life."
His statements sparked laughter from the audience in South Jakarta's District Court, including from the defendant Muchdi.
Padma had also been a witness in the trial of former Garuda pilot Pollycarpus Budihari Priyanto, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison for his role in Munir's murder.
In that August 2007 trial, Padma admitted he had worked for BIN agent Sentot Waluyo, who had ordered him to monitor Munir's activities. Padma detailed a scenario of terror, poison and black magic which Munir had been subjected to, even visiting psychic Ki Gendeng Pamungkas for help with the scheme. He had also admitted seeing Pollycarpus at BIN offices in June 2004, driving a dark-colored sedan and wearing a white shirt.
However, Padma denied all key facts during the trial, saying he could only remember a few trivial matters, such as making crank calls to the place where Munir worked.
"I only remember calling the Imparsial office using a public phone to terrorize Munir. A man answered and I said, 'Munir, you're such a traitor to the state!'.
"What I remember most is a man scolded me, saying 'Damn you!'," Padma said, adding the one-minute call was his own initiative, not anyone's order.
Padma, who claimed to be a former NGO activist, also said he had forgotten his statement that he had seen Pollycarpus at BIN offices.
Presiding judge Haswandi told the witness not to lie or pretend to forget facts.
"You're under oath. If you lie, it's your business with God. If you pretend to forget things, you could be forgetful for the rest of your life," he said.
Padma responded he was not feeling well.
"I swear in the name of God, I didn't lie, but, please, understand I'm ill and can't remember anything," he said.
Despite his extensive lack of recall, Padma did not revoke any of his previous statements, saying he had not been unduly pressured during the police investigation.
Another key witness in the murder conspiracy trial of former State Intelligence Agency (BIN) deputy chief Muchdi Purwopranjono gave confusing testimony, sparking laughter from courtroom observers.
Former BIN junior agent Raden M. Padma Anwar failed Thursday to recall his previous statements made for the police investigative file about four months ago. He claimed he did not remember many things, including his own position and salary at the agency.
He was testifying at the trial of Muchdi, accused of ordering the murder of human rights activist Munir.
"I don't remember," said Padma, known as Ucok, in response to questions from the judges about the time he worked for BIN.
"I can only remember (late former chief of the Intelligence Coordinating Agency) Arie Kumaat who asked me to cooperate with him between 2000 and 2001," he said further.
In his dossier Padma had stated he was a junior agent for BIN as assigned in an official recruitment letter. He had also said he was equipped with two guns and paid a monthly salary of Rp 1.5 million (US$156).
When the prosecutors reviewed his statements in the dossier for verification, Padma insisted he had forgotten. "Hey, I've never seen a gun in my life."
His statements sparked laughter from the audience in South Jakarta's District Court, including from the defendant Muchdi.
Padma had also been a witness in the trial of former Garuda pilot Pollycarpus Budihari Priyanto, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison for his role in Munir's murder.
In that August 2007 trial, Padma admitted he had worked for BIN agent Sentot Waluyo, who had ordered him to monitor Munir's activities. Padma detailed a scenario of terror, poison and black magic which Munir had been subjected to, even visiting psychic Ki Gendeng Pamungkas for help with the scheme. He had also admitted seeing Pollycarpus at BIN offices in June 2004, driving a dark-colored sedan and wearing a white shirt.
However, Padma denied all key facts during the trial, saying he could only remember a few trivial matters, such as making crank calls to the place where Munir worked.
"I only remember calling the Imparsial office using a public phone to terrorize Munir. A man answered and I said, 'Munir, you're such a traitor to the state!'.
"What I remember most is a man scolded me, saying 'Damn you!'," Padma said, adding the one-minute call was his own initiative, not anyone's order.
Padma, who claimed to be a former NGO activist, also said he had forgotten his statement that he had seen Pollycarpus at BIN offices.
Presiding judge Haswandi told the witness not to lie or pretend to forget facts.
"You're under oath. If you lie, it's your business with God. If you pretend to forget things, you could be forgetful for the rest of your life," he said.
Padma responded he was not feeling well.
"I swear in the name of God, I didn't lie, but, please, understand I'm ill and can't remember anything," he said.
Despite his extensive lack of recall, Padma did not revoke any of his previous statements, saying he had not been unduly pressured during the police investigation.