Doctor Found Dead at Home After Reporting Alleged Intimidation by Regional Lawmakers
A doctor, Icha Pakaenoni, was found dead at her residence in Baumata, Kupang Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, on Friday evening. She was discovered in her room with a rope tied around her neck and attached to a door frame.
Family representative Viktor Manbait stated that an external examination of the body revealed no unusual signs of violence. At the family’s request, no autopsy was performed, and the body was taken to the Baumata funeral home for prayers before burial.
Prior to her death, Dr Icha had reported an incident of alleged intimidation while treating a child patient bitten by a snake at the Leona Hospital’s emergency department in Kefamenanu. According to the family, three individuals claiming to be members of the Regional House of Representatives demanded the patient be given a vaccine immediately. After consulting a specialist, Dr Icha explained that the vaccine was not medically recommended and that the hospital did not have it in stock.
The explanation was reportedly rejected by the patient’s family, and one of the men entered the emergency room, speaking in a raised voice and pointing at Dr Icha. The family said the incident left her feeling pressured and in tears. The situation was eventually calmed by the hospital director, and the patient has since recovered and been discharged.
The family stated that Dr Icha suffered trauma following the incident. When she returned to work the next day, she saw two of the individuals involved at the hospital and decided to leave. Days later, she and her family reported the alleged intimidation to the Timor Tengah Utara District Health Office, the Indonesian Medical Association branch, and the Regional House of Representatives Ethics Council. The report named three local lawmakers.
Meanwhile, the head of the Timor Tengah Utara Regional House of Representatives, Kristoforus Efi, said the named members denied any intimidation. He described the event as a loud debate over medical procedures and stated that the members had apologised to the hospital director and management, and were open to mediation with the doctor’s family. No official statement has been released by law enforcement linking the reported intimidation to the doctor’s death.