Pollycarpus 'rarely sat during flight'

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Pollycarpus Budihari Priyanto, a key suspect in the murder case of top human rights campaigner Munir, rarely sat in his seat during the Sept. 6, 2004 flight from Jakarta to Singapore when the arsenic that killed Munir was believed to have been given, according to witnesses.

Tri Wiryaswadi, a Garuda flight attendant in the business class section during the first leg of the flight, which would eventually terminate in Amsterdam, testified that Pollycarpus only sat in his seat, number 11B, during takeoff and landing.

"I saw Pollycarpus standing around the bar area twice and one time he was standing in front of the restroom," Tri testified on Tuesday during the trial of Pollycarpus at the Central Jakarta District Court on Tuesday.

He added that Pollycarpus, a senior Garuda pilot -- but not active during the flight -- was not in his seat when the food was being served to business class passengers, including Munir. Tri added that Pollycarpus was nowhere to be seen for nearly half of the one-hour flight.

However, when chief judge Cicut Sutiarso asked Tri whether he knew about Pollycarpus' activities when he was standing in the bar area, Tri said that he had no idea.

Munir died on the Garuda flight on his way to the Netherlands. A forensic investigation by the Dutch authorities found nearly four times the lethal amount of arsenic in his stomach.

Pollycarpus has been accused by prosecutors of pouring arsenic into a cup of juice served as a welcome drink to Munir during the flight.

Another witness summoned on Tuesday to testify was Garuda crew member Yeti Susmiyarti, who served Munir the welcome drink.

She confirmed Tri's testimony saying that she saw Pollycarpus standing in the bar area.

"Pollycarpus was writing something when he was standing at the bar, but I didn't know what he was writing," Yeti said.

Yeti admitted that she was the one who served beverages to Munir who was seated in business class seat number 3K.

However, she said that she had a lot of beverages on her tray including orange juice, apple juice and champagne, and she did not encourage Munir to take any particular glass from her tray.

The tray contained eight to ten glasses, she said, and Munir himself picked one glass and drank it.

As for Pollycarpus, Yeti said that she did not pay any attention to him, therefore, she did not know whether he remained seated during the flight or not.

Yeti and fellow Garuda crew member Oedi Irianto have also been named suspects in the case.

The trial was adjourned until Tuesday to hear more witness testimony.