Peacekeeping Task Force Investigates Shooting of Freeport Employee in Tembagapura
Timika — The Peacekeeping Operation Task Force (Satgas Operasi Damai Cartenz 2026) conducted a crime scene investigation into the shooting incident involving Simson Mulia (48), an employee of PT Freeport Indonesia, in the Grasberg area of Tembagapura District, Mimika, Central Papua, on Wednesday, 11 March.
Yusuf Sutejo, Head of Public Affairs for the Peacekeeping Operation Task Force, stated during a briefing in Timika on Friday that the crime scene investigation was conducted jointly with the Mimika Police Resort and the Tembagapura area security personnel.
The investigation process began with team consolidation at mile 68 in Tembagapura, followed by examination of witness conditions at the hospital and coordination with security personnel at Post 900 before proceeding to the incident location.
“At the scene, the joint team conducted an initial reconstruction of the incident through seven crime scene examination scenarios, including verification of the vehicle’s position at the time of the incident, the victim’s position when he fell, the direction from which the shots were fired, and the position of the witness when the incident occurred,” Sutejo said.
He explained that the entire crime scene investigation was carried out safely and smoothly, with the team conducting a final consolidation at Mile 68 Tembagapura afterwards.
According to the crime scene investigation results and the surviving witness’s account, the shooting occurred as the victim and his colleague had just completed survey work in the area. The witness, who was both the victim’s colleague and the vehicle driver, stated that at the time of the incident, the victim was at the rear of the pickup truck arranging survey equipment and tools as their work had been completed.
“The victim was at the rear of the pickup truck when suddenly two loud explosions were heard from a direction that could not be determined at that time,” Sutejo said.
The witness subsequently saw the victim fall immediately, and his helmet was dislodged to the ground. Recognising the situation, the witness immediately contacted the base camp using a handheld radio (HT) to request urgent evacuation assistance.