Jayapura, Jubi – Roy Marthen Howai, one of the suspects in the murder and mutilation of four Nduga residents in Mimika, testified in a trial held at the Jayapura Military Court III-19 on Wednesday, December 14, 2022. Roy’s testimony revealed many things, including the fact that two victims tried to escape and Roy’s involvement in the mutilation of the four bodies.
The trial was held against five soldiers of the Raider 20/Ima Jaya Keramo Infantry Brigade, namely Capt. Inf Dominggus Kainama (Pasi PAM Ops Brigif R 20/lJK/3), First Pvt. Rahmat Amin Sese, First Pvt. Rizky Oktaf Muliawan, First Pvt. Robertus Putra Clinsman, and Chief Pvt. Pargo Rumbouw. The five defendants allegedly involved in the murder and mutilation of Arnold Lokbere, Irian Nirigi, Lemaniel Nirigi, and Atis Tini.
The case was examined by a panel of judges led by chief judge Col. Rudy Dwi Prakamto with member judges Lt. Col. Slamet Widodo and Lt. Col. Arie Fitriansyah. In Wednesday’s hearing, the panel of judges heard testimonies from a number of witnesses presented by the Military Oditur, including Andre Pudjianto Lee aka Jack, Dul Umam, Rafles Lakasa, Roy Marthen Howai, Luluk Susianto, Abdul Baki, and Muhammad Rohman.
Roy Marthen Howai admitted he knew the five defendants. He said the five defendants were at the location when the murder and mutilation of the four victims took place.
“Jack is my neighbor and we went to junior high school together. I just met the other defendants at the incident,” he said.
Roy said he did not know about the first and second planning meeting but admitted he attended the third planning meeting which took place at a warehouse owned by Jack on August 20, 2022.
Roy went to the location that was used as a place to lure the four victims. At that time, Roy was carrying a machete. He was ordered by Jack and Rahmat Amin Sese to ask the victims to come to that location for a firearms transaction.
According to Roy, when the four victims arrived, they brought Rp 150 million (USD 9,600). Rizky Oktaf Muliawan showed a pistol and a wrapped long-barreled weapon to the victims.
The pistol was sold for Rp 50 million while the long-barreled weapon for Rp 100 million.
Roy said that at that time, the other defendants were hiding in the bushes before appearing when the transaction took place. Robertus Putra Clinsman immediately hit the victim named Leman Nirigi until he fell. One victim tried to escape. Roy chased him and slashed him with a machete.
After slashing the victim, Roy walked back to the location. On the way he heard gunshots. Roy also saw Irian Nirigi tried to escape. Irian Nigiri was shot by Dominggus Kainama and immediately fell to the ground.
According to Roy’s testimony, the four victims were dead right then and there at the transaction location. In the victims’ car, Roy found another sum of money.
“I checked inside the car to make sure whether there were more people or not. I only found money and decided to leave. I went to my house, immediately counted the money and it was Rp 250 million. I kept the money beside the well near the house,” Roy said.
Not long after, Roy received a phone call from Jack, who told him he would be picked up by Rahmat, Robertus, Rizky, and Pargo. When they arrived, Roy handed over the money to Rahmat and his friends.
Roy then followed Rahmat and his friends by car to a log pond. On the way, they bought gasoline and stopped again to look for seven sacks.
Arriving at the log pond, Roy met with the defendants and the other suspects. At that time, the bodies of the four victims were in the trunk of the car already in a headless condition.
Roy then mutilated the bodies of the victims. “Rahmat and I mutilated the bodies, while Dul Umam held the sack. All of this was done by the orders of Jack,” Roy testified in the trial.
After disposing of the bodies, Roy and the other defendants and suspects headed towards the Trans Road as ordered by Jack. After that, Rahmat set the victim’s car on fire. According to Roy, Dul Umam also poured gasoline on the car.
“We immediately walked towards the bridge, making sure the car was completely burned and exploded. We all headed home. I was driven home. The next afternoon, I was called to meet at Jack’s workshop for the distribution of Rp 250 million. The one who divided the money was Rahmat. I do not know the whereabouts of the Rp150 million given by the victims at the time of the transaction,” Roy said.
Roy’s detailed testimony gained rebuttals from the defendants. Dominggus Kainama said one of the victims was the one who hit them first. Kaimana also denied that all victims died right then and there. He said three victims were brought to the log pond and killed there, while one victim died at the firearm transaction location.
Rahmat Amin Sese denied he determined the price of the firearms offered to the four victims. According to him, the price was determined by Jack. Rahmat also said that the money Roy handed over to him was only Rp 150 million, not Rp 250 million. In addition, Rahmat emphasized that one victim died at the transaction site because he was slashed by Roy.
Rizky Oktaf Muliawan also denied Roy’s testimony. According to him, the three victims arrived at the log pond alive, while another victim died at the transaction site from three stab wounds. Rizky also said that the bodies of the victims were still intact at the log pond. In addition, Rizky stated that the amount of money the four victims brought when negotiating was Rp 100 million, not Rp 150 million.
Robertus Putra Clinsman also stated that the first hit was started by one of the victims. He echoed Rizky about the Rp 100 million. He also explained that the money Roy handed over when he was picked up at his house was Rp 150 million. Robertus also said the gunshots Roy heard were not shots to kill the victims but shots upwards to drive away people who were near the location.
Pargo Rumbouw testified that all the victims were still alive when they were at the transaction location and arrived at the log pond not mutilated.
During the trial, the presiding judge ordered the prosecutor to show evidence in the murder and mutilation case. The prosecutor showed evidence in the form of a machete, iron, a cash of Rp 42,327,000 and a pistol belonging to Dominggus Kainama, a cash of Rp 22,000,000 belonging to Rahmat Amin Sese, a cash of Rp 21,500,000 belonging to Rizky Oktaf Muliawan, a cash of Rp 21,450,000 along with a pistol, magazine, and seven bullets belonging to Robertus Putra Clinsman, and a cash of Rp 3,900,000 belonging to Pargo Rumbouw.
Presiding judge Col. Rudy Dwi Prakamto decided to adjourn the trial. The trial was adjourned until January 10, 2023. The next trial will hear testimony from a number of other witnesses in the case of the Mimika murder and mutilation. (*)
