Jayapura, Jubi – Commander of the 172/Praja Wira Yakthi Military Resort Command Brig. Gen. Juinta Omboh Sembiring said he was ready to take responsibility if any of his soldiers were found guilty of helping Central Mamberamo Regent Ricky Ham Pagawak (RHP) to escape.
Sembiring said however that until now his party had not found any indication that Indonesian Military (TNI) soldiers were involved in helping Ricky Ham Pagawak escape. “There has been no indication of TNI soldiers helping Ricky Ham Pagawak escape to Papua New Guinea,” said Sembiring in Jayapura City on Tuesday, August 2, 2022.
RHP has been named suspect by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in a bribery and gratification case. After being named suspect, RHP was absent from the KPK’s summons twice, then disappeared.
RHP was last seen at Skouw Market in Jayapura City, on July 14, 2022. The area is the border area between Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. RHP’s presence there raises the suspicion that he fled to Papua New Guinea.
Four police officers who had been assigned to be RHP’s aide have been arrested and detained and investigated by the Professional and Security Division (Bidpropam) of the Papua Police. One of them, Second Adj. Insp AI, allegedly prepared the vehicle and communication tools used by RHP to escape.
On Monday, a number of media reported allegations that the Commander of the 1702/Jayawijaya Military District Command, Lt. Col. CPN AM, was involved in helping RHP escape to Papua New Guinea.
Brig. Gen. Juinta Omboh Sembiring said his party supported the KPK’s efforts to investigate all those suspected of helping Ricky Ham Pagawak escape. “As the Commander of 172/Praja Wira Yakthi, I fully support the investigation. If proven that there are TNI soldiers involved in helping the escape, we TNI certainly will have a separate investigation process against soldiers who commit violations,” he said.
Sembiring also said that the TNI fully supports the KPK’s efforts to locate Ricky Ham Pagawak. “We have ordered a task force on the Indonesia-Papua New Guinea border to search,” said Sembiring. (*)
