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.