Three Regional Legislators Questioned by NTT Police Over Alleged Intimidation of Doctor Icha
Four suspects, comprising three members of the Timor Tengah Utara (TTU) Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) and a civil servant, underwent questioning at the East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Police headquarters on Tuesday (14/7) over the alleged intimidation of Dr Eliza Princila Pakaenoni, known as Doctor Icha. The four individuals reported by the late doctor’s family are DPRD TTU members Therensius Lazakar (Golkar), Norbertus Tubani (PKB), and Veronika Lake (PDIP), along with Maria Mathildis Sau, a veterinary doctor employed by the TTU Livestock Service.
Based on observations, the four reported individuals arrived at the NTT Police headquarters at 10:30 WITA, arriving separately. Therensius, Norbertus, and Maria were seen alighting from one vehicle, while Veronika arrived in another and walked separately from the other three. Upon arrival, they proceeded directly to the Directorate of General Criminal Investigation (Ditreskrimum) and entered the Sub-Directorate 1 for Violent Crimes (Jatanras) examination room. They did not respond to journalists’ questions as they entered the building, and remained in the examination room to provide statements as reported witnesses.
The four suspects had previously requested a postponement of the examination by NTT Police investigators. They were originally scheduled to be questioned on Monday (13/7) but cited prior commitments as the reason for the delay. Director of General Criminal Investigation for NTT Police, Senior Commissioner Sigit Haryono, confirmed on Monday that the examination was rescheduled following notification from the suspects’ legal counsel. He explained that a joint investigation team has already questioned 32 witnesses in the case, including 27 examined in Kefamenanu and five family members of the victim interviewed at the NTT Police’s Directorate for the Protection of Women and Children and the Eradication of Human Trafficking.
Sigit detailed that witnesses questioned in Kefamenanu included healthcare workers from Kefamenanu Regional Hospital and Leona Hospital, patients present during the alleged intimidation, patients treated by Doctor Icha after the incident, and other parties with knowledge of the event. The joint team was formed by NTT Police Chief, Inspector General Rudi Darmoko. The case emerged after Dr Icha was found dead at her home in Baumata Barat, Kupang Regency, on Friday (26/6) afternoon, having reportedly taken her own life. She was believed to have suffered severe depression and psychological distress following intimidation by the three DPRD TTU members on 13 June 2026 while treating a snakebite patient in the emergency unit of Leona Hospital in Kefamenanu. The snakebite patient, whose life was saved, is reportedly a relative of one of the DPRD members involved in the alleged intimidation. The family subsequently filed a report with the NTT Police on 3 July 2026.