Lawyer Claims NTT Doctor's Death Due to Romantic Issues, Not Intimidation

The legal representative for two Timor Tengah Utara (TTU) councillors has denied that the death of Dr Eliza Princila Utami Pakaenoni, known as Dr Icha, was related to an alleged intimidation incident on 13 June 2026. Lawyer Amos Lafu stated that the 27-year-old doctor is suspected to have ended her life due to romantic issues, not pressure experienced at her workplace. Amos Lafu is the attorney for Therezius Lakabu (Golkar) and Nobertus Tubani (PKB), two of the three TTU councillors reported to the East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Regional Police over the alleged intimidation of Dr Icha. The third councillor reported is Veronika Lake (PDIP). The report followed an incident in the emergency room of Leona Hospital in Kefamenanu on Saturday, 13 June 2026, around 7:00 p.m. local time, when Dr Icha was treating a child patient who had been bitten by a venomous snake, who was a nephew of Nobertus Tubani. The three councillors allegedly scolded Dr Icha and threatened to revoke her medical practice licence for not immediately injecting the patient with anti-venom serum. Dr Icha’s family stated that the pressure caused her significant mental distress prior to her death. Amos asserted that his team possesses facts indicating the death was unrelated to the 13 June incident or the alleged intimidation that has drawn public and media attention. He mentioned there were other ‘political polemics’ and ‘romantic polemics’ being gathered, but declined to provide details publicly. ‘We have a number of facts showing this case has no connection to the 13 June incident or the alleged intimidation widely reported in the media. There are various moduses and facts circulating, including those concerning our clients’ capacity as council members. This also cannot be separated from political polemics, romantic polemics, and other issues whose data we are still compiling. There will be a time for us to convey them to the public,’ Amos said in a circulated video. He added that the findings and evidence held by his clients would also be submitted to investigators so the case could 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 cornered his clients.