Dian Kuswandini, Jakarta – State prosecutors on Thursday defended their charges of premeditated murder against former State Intelligent Agency (BIN) deputy chief Muchdi Purwopranjono, asking the court to push ahead with the trial.
However, prosecutors did not respond to the defendant's rebuttal against the alleged motive behind the murder of human rights activist Munir Said Thalib, nor the factual errors in the information they presented in their indictment.
Prosecutor Cirus Sinaga said his team had noted Muchdi's plea on several issues, including reported international and national pressure on the trial, conflicting crime scenes, the testimony of BIN agent Budi Santoso, and the authority of the South Jakarta District Court to try the high-profile case.
"Our Constitution and laws say law enforcement in the context of human rights must be respected, honored, promoted, preserved and carried out, primarily by the government. Therefore, accusing this trial of coming under local and international intervention does not make sense," Cirus told the court.
Prosecutors also said defense lawyers' skepticism over key witness Budi was premature. Budi said in his testimony Muchdi had ordered former Garuda pilot Pollycarpus Budihari Priyanto to kill Munir. "We never know what will happen in the next few days – whether we can bring Budi to court, or cross-check his testimony," Cirus said.
Muchdi's lawyers insist Budi had a stronger motive than Muchdi for killing Munir. Cirus also said his team named two crime scenes in its indictment – Singapore's Changi Airport and a Garuda plane – because the location where Munir was poisoned (the airport), could not be separated from the place where he died, which was on the plane.
Munir died of arsenic poisoning on Sept. 7, 2004. Pollycarpus was sentenced to 20 years in prison for his role in the murder.
In the previous hearing, Muchdi's lawyers said prosecutors had failed to establish their client's reason for paying Pollycarpus Rp 17 million. But prosecutors insisted they had explained it.
"We mentioned in our indictment the money was for supporting Pollycarpus' activities. Whether it was to buy arsenic, spy on Munir or for Pollycarpus' pocket money, we should wait for the next session of the trial to find out," prosecutors said.
Prosecutors also asked the court to continue trying the case, despite objections from defense lawyers insisting the authority to try the case belonged to the Central Jakarta District Court, because Munir died outside Indonesia.
The court will hold its next session on September 9, when the judges will decide whether to continue with the case or drop it.