Pollycarpus linked to BIN, says team

Pollycarpus linked to BIN, says team

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The fact-finding team tasked to assist the investigation into the
death by poisoning of Munir Thalib Said revealed incriminating
evidence of the involvement of the State Intelligence Body (BIN)
in the case, saying the main suspect in the murder kept in touch
with a top BIN official after the rights activist died.

Asmara Nababan, the team's deputy head, said after a meeting
with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Wednesday that Garuda
pilot Pollycarpus Budihari Prihanto called the BIN official via
his cellular phone several times after Munir's death last
September.

"We reported to the President that Polly had direct contact
with someone in BIN. It means there is a connection (between BIN
and Polly), which BIN had previously denied. But, we must be
cautious as we don't want to implicate BIN as an institution," he
said.

Asmara, a former secretary-general of the National Commission
on Human Rights, declined to identify the BIN official, citing
the presumption of innocence.

Sources close to the team said that Polly made the phone calls
to the room of BIN deputy five from September to October. The
team has obtained a document from a cellular phone provider
confirming that the calls were directed to the room of the
official.

Deputy five at that time was Maj. Gen. Muchdi Pr., a former
commander of the Army's Special Forces (Kopassus). The police
investigators and the fact-finding team were unable to quiz
Muchdi on Tuesday as he did not show up for questioning.

So far, the investigators and the team have questioned Nurhadi
Djazuli, the BIN secretary-general when the case took place.

The fact-finding team has not questioned Hendropriyono, who
was the BIN head at that time.

Rights activist Munir was found dead aboard a Garuda flight
from Jakarta to Amsterdam on Sept. 7 last year. An autopsy found
an excessive amount of arsenic in his body.

Police have named Garuda pilot/aviation security officer
Pollycarpus and two flight attendants who were on duty when Munir
died as suspects.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono heard on Wednesday the
report from the team, which was represented by Asmara and its
head Brig. Gen. Marsudhi Hanafi.

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security
Affairs Widodo Adi Sucipto, BIN chief Syamsir Siregar, National
Police Chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar and Attorney General Abdul Rahman
Saleh were also present.

While reporters were briefed by State Secretary Sudi
Silalahi, Syamsir fell over as he attempted to sneak away.

Syamsir said he would investigate the possible involvement of
BIN in the murder of Munir.

"That's what they said, I will investigate it," Syamsir said,
responding to questions on whether Polly belonged to BIN.

The meeting was aimed at "improving coordinating between the
team and the parties involved" in a bid to help boost the
investigation into the case, Sudi said.

"The President has given clear directives. There will be no
more problems in the future hampering the investigation," he
said.

Marsudhi said the President had ordered BIN and the police to
follow up the results of the team's findings.

"There will be a periodical meeting to iron out problems
facing the investigation," he said.

Asmara hailed the meeting, saying it reflected a common
commitment on the part of all parties to reveal those responsible
for the murder of Munir.