Lawyer Claims NTT Doctor's Death Due to Romantic Issues, Not Intimidation
Kupang, VIVA – The legal counsel for two members of the North Timor Tengah (TTU) Regional Council, who were reported in a case of alleged intimidation against Dr Eliza Princila Utami Pakaenoni, also known as Dr Icha (27), has denied that her death was linked to the intimidation incident on 13 June 2026.
According to the lawyer, Dr Icha is suspected of taking her own life due to romantic issues, rather than as a result of pressure experienced in her workplace.
Amos Lafu is the legal representative for Therezius Lazakar (Golkar) and Nobertus Tubani (PKB), two of the three TTU Regional Council members reported to the East Nusa Tenggara Regional Police for alleged intimidation of Dr Icha. The third council member reported is Veronika Lake (PDIP).
The three members were reported following an incident in the Emergency Room of Leona Kefamenanu Hospital on Saturday, 13 June 2026, at approximately 19:00 WITA. At that time, Dr Icha was treating a paediatric patient who had been bitten by a venomous snake, a child known to be the nephew of Nobertus Tubani.
The three council members allegedly reprimanded Dr Icha and threatened to revoke her medical licence because she did not immediately administer anti-venom serum to the patient. Dr Icha’s family claimed that this pressure caused her significant mental distress leading up to her death.
Amos asserted that his team possesses several facts indicating that Dr Icha’s death is unrelated to the events of 13 June or the allegations of intimidation that have been the focus of public and media attention.
He mentioned that there are other “political polemics” and “romantic polemics” that his team is still gathering, though he was not yet willing to disclose the details to the public.
“We have several facts showing that this matter has no connection to the events of 13 June or the alleged intimidation widely reported in the media. There are many modes and facts circulating, including those concerning my clients’ capacities as members of the Council. This is also inseparable from political polemics, romantic polemic, and other polemics for which we are still collecting data. There will be a time for us to present this to the public,” said Amos, in a circulating video cited on Sunday, 5 July 2026.
He added that the findings and evidence held by his clients will also be presented to investigators so that the case can be handled based on complete facts. Amos also accused certain parties of attempting to profit from Dr Icha’s death by constructing a narrative that corners his clients.