Alfian, Jakarta – A National Intelligence Agency (BIN) officer said former Garuda Indonesia pilot Pollycarpus had requested a letter from the body recommending him for a security post at the national flag carrier prior to Munir's murder, a court heard Tuesday.
In a written statement read out by Prosecutor Didik Farkhan, Agent Budi Santoso told the Central Jakarta District Court hearing the Munir murder trial that Pollycarpus had asked him to assist in drafting the letter.
"The letter was addressed to Garuda's president director and it provided a place for the signature of BIN's deputy chief," Didik said, quoting Budi's written testimony in the trial of former Garuda Indonesia president director Indra Setiawan.
Budi's testimony seems to confirm Pollycarpus's link to BIN, which agency officials had denied. Budi said that Pollycarpus had no structural position in the agency but he was part of BIN's network.
"Pollycarpus knew Muchdi PR (former assistant to chief of BIN). Pollycarpus called me several times asking whether Muchdi was at the office or not. I was also often ordered by Muchdi to check on where Pollycarpus was," Budi said in his statement.
Budi said that on June 14, 2004, based on an order from Muchdi, he gave Rp 10 million to Pollycarpus.
"I did not know what the money was for. When Pollycarpus came under investigation by the police, Muchdi also ordered me to give him between Rp 3 to 4 million on two or three different occasions," said Budi.
Budi failed to appear in court due to a state duty overseas, according to a letter from BIN chief Syamsir Siregar, which was sent to the panel of judges. Budi had been summoned twice.
The charges of conspiracy to commit premeditated murder against Indra are related to the appointment of Pollycarpus as a security officer and to the off-duty pilot's eventual assignment to a security detail on the Garuda flight on which Munir was murdered.
Indra said he had been ordered by BIN's deputy chief M. As'ad to write the assignment letter.
Pollycarpus was present at the court proceeding and said he was upset with the testimony. "I don't know who Budi Santoso is. None of what he said is true. I was at the top of my career as a pilot in 2004, I was wealthy," said Pollycarpus.
The Supreme Court has acquitted Pollycarpus of charges brought in connection with the Munir assassination.
He challenged the prosecutors to present better evidence. "If any phone records exist, I ask the prosecutor to play them in the courtroom," said Pollycarpus.
Munir's widow Suciwati, who also attended the court session, said the nation's law enforcers should pay serious attention to Budi's testimony.
"The involvement of state intelligence in the Munir murder case is becoming more obvious. Everyone responsible must be prosecuted because everybody is equal under the law," said Suciwati.
Suciwati bemoaned the fact that since the emergence of indications that BIN could have been involved, the case had been moving very slowly.
Presiding judge Heru Pramono said the court would announce its verdict in the case on February 11.