Dian Kuswandini, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Fri, 09/19/2008 11:54 AM | National
Two witnesses revoked their testimonies during Thursday's trial session of former State Intelligence Agency (BIN) deputy head Muchdi Purwopranjono, who is allegedly responsible for the murder of human rights activist Munir Said Thalib.
The two witnesses -- Zondhy Anwar and Arifin Rahman, who previously worked for Muchdi at the BIN -- denied that they had seen former Garuda pilot Pollycarpus Budihari Priyanto visit Muchdi's office as they had originally testified.
Pollycarpus was sentenced to 20 years in prison for his role in the murder.
In their original testimonies, the witnesses said: "I saw that person (Pollycarpus) when he visited Muchdi's office, but I don't know who he was," when the police had shown them a photograph of Pollycarpus in June 2008.
However, when state prosecutors questioned them on Thursday, Zondhy retracted his statement and Arifin denied that he had ever made his.
"That was not true (regarding Pollycarpus' visit to Muchdi's office). I have no idea about that," Zondhy told the South Jakarta District Court.
Arifin said: "As far as I remember, Pollycarpus never came to the defendant's office."
The prosecutors and presiding judge Suharto recited the witnesses' earlier statements, but the two insisted that the testimonies be retracted despite reminders they had made the statements under oath.
"I was under pressure (when making the testimony), -- psychologically, not physically. Therefore, I'm asking the court to annul my previous testimony," Zondhy said.
"I refuse the testimony. I never made such a statement," said Arifin, who testified after Zondhy.
The prosecutors then asked the panel of judges to present as witnesses the detectives who had heard the statements in the next court hearing.
"The police recorded their interrogations. They have the evidence. The prosecutors will bring them to the court," prosecutor Cirus Sinaga said.
Munir was found dead on board a Garuda Indonesia flight to Amsterdam on Sept. 7, 2004. Pollycarpus traveled on board the aircraft in his role as Garuda's corporate security officer, allegedly at the orders of Muchdi.
The cause of death was poisoning by arsenic, which was administered during a stopover in Singapore.
The statements by the two witnesses contradict each other on details concerning a computer allegedly used by Muchdi to write a letter requesting that Garuda assign Pollycarpus as corporate security officer for the flight.
The witnesses agreed that 41 telephone calls, as disclosed in a police record, had been made from Muchdi's mobile phone number to Pollycarpus'.
Muchdi has confirmed that the number, 0811900978, was his but also said his phones were often used by his aides and friends.
Arifin and Zondhy said Muchdi often left his mobile phones on the staff table so that others could use them.
"Muchdi's close friend Sr. Comr. Zaini used it several times, as well as (BIN agent) Budi Santoso," Arifin said.
Both witnesses have denied they inputted Pollycarpus' phone number into Muchdi's phone. But after being reminded by the prosecutors of their previous testimonies, they finally confessed.
Zondhy said he had saved Pollycarpus' number as dictated by Arifin, while the latter said he had personally inputted the number, which he had read off of Pollycarpus' business card.
Two witnesses revoked their testimonies during Thursday's trial session of former State Intelligence Agency (BIN) deputy head Muchdi Purwopranjono, who is allegedly responsible for the murder of human rights activist Munir Said Thalib.
The two witnesses -- Zondhy Anwar and Arifin Rahman, who previously worked for Muchdi at the BIN -- denied that they had seen former Garuda pilot Pollycarpus Budihari Priyanto visit Muchdi's office as they had originally testified.
Pollycarpus was sentenced to 20 years in prison for his role in the murder.
In their original testimonies, the witnesses said: "I saw that person (Pollycarpus) when he visited Muchdi's office, but I don't know who he was," when the police had shown them a photograph of Pollycarpus in June 2008.
However, when state prosecutors questioned them on Thursday, Zondhy retracted his statement and Arifin denied that he had ever made his.
"That was not true (regarding Pollycarpus' visit to Muchdi's office). I have no idea about that," Zondhy told the South Jakarta District Court.
Arifin said: "As far as I remember, Pollycarpus never came to the defendant's office."
The prosecutors and presiding judge Suharto recited the witnesses' earlier statements, but the two insisted that the testimonies be retracted despite reminders they had made the statements under oath.
"I was under pressure (when making the testimony), -- psychologically, not physically. Therefore, I'm asking the court to annul my previous testimony," Zondhy said.
"I refuse the testimony. I never made such a statement," said Arifin, who testified after Zondhy.
The prosecutors then asked the panel of judges to present as witnesses the detectives who had heard the statements in the next court hearing.
"The police recorded their interrogations. They have the evidence. The prosecutors will bring them to the court," prosecutor Cirus Sinaga said.
Munir was found dead on board a Garuda Indonesia flight to Amsterdam on Sept. 7, 2004. Pollycarpus traveled on board the aircraft in his role as Garuda's corporate security officer, allegedly at the orders of Muchdi.
The cause of death was poisoning by arsenic, which was administered during a stopover in Singapore.
The statements by the two witnesses contradict each other on details concerning a computer allegedly used by Muchdi to write a letter requesting that Garuda assign Pollycarpus as corporate security officer for the flight.
The witnesses agreed that 41 telephone calls, as disclosed in a police record, had been made from Muchdi's mobile phone number to Pollycarpus'.
Muchdi has confirmed that the number, 0811900978, was his but also said his phones were often used by his aides and friends.
Arifin and Zondhy said Muchdi often left his mobile phones on the staff table so that others could use them.
"Muchdi's close friend Sr. Comr. Zaini used it several times, as well as (BIN agent) Budi Santoso," Arifin said.
Both witnesses have denied they inputted Pollycarpus' phone number into Muchdi's phone. But after being reminded by the prosecutors of their previous testimonies, they finally confessed.
Zondhy said he had saved Pollycarpus' number as dictated by Arifin, while the latter said he had personally inputted the number, which he had read off of Pollycarpus' business card.
