Makassar, Jubi – A new fact outside the trial of the seven Papuan political prisoners has revealed.
Anike Mohi, a wife of Agus Kossay who is currently serving a sentence with other 6 Papuan political prisoners in Balikpapan, Kalimantan Timur, said a man offered her millions of cash before the judge read the decision over the defendants on 17 June 2020. The man was allegedly a member of the police intelligence from Papua.
Mohi gave her statement in an online press conference held on Wednesday (1/7/2020) with the Legal Advisor Team of the seven political prisoners. “During the trial of Buchtar Tabuni in the Balikpapan District Court, my friend and I came to the court to observe the hearing. An intelligent agent from Papua Police approached and offered us Rp 10 millions of cash,” said Anike Mohi.
Mohi said she firmly refused that offer and told the officer that the dignity and lives of Papuans could not exchange for money. She further told the officer that there would not be a problem at all if her husband and his two colleagues Buchtar Tabuni and Steven Itlay go to jail, as long as the four students Alexander Gobay, Irwanus Uropmabin, Hengki Hilapok and Feri Kombo were released of charges.
“It seems that the officer entrusted the money to a police intelligence officer here (Kalimantan Timur) because the latter always called me asking when I will pick up the money, and I keep telling them I will not. Then, I blocked his telephone number,” she said.
In the press conference, the representative of Legal Advisor Team Fathul Huda confirmed the cash offer to the defendants’ families. “I accepted information from the wives of Buchtar Tabuni and Agus Kossay that someone offered them cash,” said Huda.
According to him, those who offered cash to his clients’ wives kept saying if the family accepted this offer, it would help to reduce the sentence of the seven political prisoners. Also, the same persons always contact and send a text message to Fathul Huda, but he never gave them a response. Therefore, these men stalk him and take his pictures many times.
“However, the fact is the verdict [against the seven political prisoners] was reduced [from the proposed impeachment by the public prosecutor]. It indicates that they are not important people. They were not able to influence the judge’s mind, and what they did is misconduct,” he said. (*)
Reporter: Arjuna Pademme
Editor: Pipit Maizier
