Jayapura, Jubi – The panel of judges of the Surabaya High Military Court III found the defendant in the murder and mutilation of four Nduga residents in Mimika, Maj. Inf Helmanto Fransiskus Dakhi, guilty of premeditated murder. In the verdict read at the Jayapura Military Court III-19 Jayapura on Tuesday, January 24, 2023, Dakhi was sentenced to life imprisonment.
Helmanto Fransiskus Dakhi is one of six soldiers of the Raider 20/Ima Jaya Keramo Infantry Brigade who are defendants in the Mimika murder and mutilation case that occurred in Settlement Unit 1, Mimika Baru District, Mimika Regency on August 22, 2022.
The other five suspects are Capt. Inf Dominggus Kainama (who died on December 24, 2022 due to heart disease), First Pvt. Rahmat Amin Sese, First Pvt. Rizky Oktaf Muliawan, First Pvt. Robertus Putra Clinsman, and Chief Pvt. Pargo Rumbouw. The four victims were Arnold Lokbere, Irian Nirigi, Lemaniel Nirigi, and Atis Tini.
Major Dakhi was tried at the Surabaya High Military Court III but the location of the trial was moved to the Jayapura Military Court III-19. The case was examined by chief judge Col. Chk Sultan and member judges Col. Chk Agus Husin and Col. Chk Prastiti Siswayani.
When reading out the verdict, the chief judge said the sentence given to Helmanto Dakhi was in accordance with the evidence presented by witnesses in the trial. He was proven to have committed the joint premeditated murder as stipulated in Article 340 jo 55 paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code.
The reading of the verdict was witnessed directly by the families of the victims and the Nduga community. From Jubi’s observation at the Military Court III-19 Jayapura, the verdict reading session took place safely.
The verdict handed down by the panel of judges was heavier than the Military prosecutor’s demands. On January 19, 2023, the Military prosecutor demanded that Helmanto Dakhi be found guilty of withholding and concealing information from superiors, and asked the panel of judges to impose a criminal sentence of four years in prison and dismiss Dakhi from the Army. (*)
