Papua Governor Lukas Enembe Named Suspect

KOMPAS/FABIO MARIA LOPES COSTA

Papua Governor Lukas Enembe

JAYAPURA, KOMPAS - The Law and Human Rights Ministry’s Immigration Directorate General has prevented Papua Governor Lukas Enembe from traveling abroad for the next six months at the request of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). The KPK has named Lukas a suspect for allegedly receiving Rp 1 billion (US$67,313) in gratuities, according to his attorney.

“The KPK has requested that the Immigration Directorate General issue a travel ban on Lukas Enembe on Wednesday, 7 September 2022. The travel ban will be effective for the next six months,” said immigration supervision and enforcement director I Nyoman Gede Surya Mataram in Jakarta through a written statement on Monday (12/9/2022).

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Surya disclosed that after receiving the request, the Immigration Directorate General immediately input Lukas’ name in the Immigration Management Information System (Simkim), which is connected to all immigration checkpoints at airports, seaports and cross-border posts throughout the country.

On Monday, the KPK was supposed to question Lukas at the Papua police’s mobile brigade headquarters (Markas Brimob) but was unable to as Lukas was ill.

The masses demanded that the KPK stop investigating Lukas as they deemed it an attempt of criminalization.

According to Kompas' observations, Lukas was absent and instead had three of his attorneys represent him. Hundreds of his supporters were seen crowding the road in front of the Papua Police’s Markas Brimob at around 11 a.m. The masses demanded that the KPK stop investigating Lukas as they deemed it an attempt of criminalization.

Lukas’ legal team met with the KPK’s investigation director Brig. Gen. Asep Guntur. During the one-hour meeting at the Markas Brimob, the legal team claimed that Lukas could not be questioned as he was still sick.

The team also showed a 14-day medical leave letter approved by Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian to KPK investigators. The letter was dated 9 September 2022.

DOKUMENTASI PUSPEN KEMENDAGRI

Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian

Roy Rening, as a representative of Lukas’ legal team, was met after the meeting and explained that the KPK had named Lukas a suspect in an alleged gratification case worth Rp 1 billion in 2020. The KPK claimed that the gratuities came from the regional budget (APBD) allocated to the Papua provincial administration project.

Kompas contacted KPK leaders to confirm Lukas’ case. A message was also sent to KPK news head Ali Fikri. However, no one was willing to comment as of Monday night.

An expert staff in politics and media for the Home Affairs Minister, Kastorius Sinaga, emphasized that there was no correlation between the medical leave letter issued by the Home Affairs Ministry and the KPK’s move to name Lukas Enembe a suspect.

When issuing the letter, according to Kasto, the ministry was unaware of any plans to name Lukas a suspect in a graft case.

Additionally, he said, Lukas’s request to receive medical treatment abroad was submitted to the Home Affairs Ministry on 31 August 2022. He fulfilled the requirements and passed the formal mechanisms and procedures stipulated by the law. When issuing the letter, according to Kasto, the ministry was unaware of any plans to name Lukas a suspect in a graft case.

Kasto emphasized that the ministry also respected the independence of law enforcement officers in carrying out their authority. “The Home Affairs Ministry granted medical leave for Governor Lukas Enembe solely based on humanitarian considerations in accordance with the conditions, including providing a letter of recommendation from a doctor regarding the need for medical treatment abroad,” Kasto said.

Claimed to be his own

Roy Rening thought that it was odd that Lukas was named a suspect. This is because Lukas was transferred Rp 1 billion of his own money for medical purposes and there was no investigation and not even two pieces of evidence to support Lukas being named a suspect.

“He asked his subordinates to transfer money to his personal account while undergoing treatment in 2020. However, KPK investigators are using this as evidence to ensnare him in a graft case,” he said.

KOMPAS/WAWAN H PRABOWO (WAK)

Residents pass in front of the Red and White Building of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Kuningan, Jakarta, on Monday (6/7/2020).

Muhammad Rifai Darus, a spokesman for Lukas Enembe, said that Lukas had swelling in his legs due to gout, a weakened voice and high blood pressure. He revealed that Lukas should have left for Singapore on Monday for a medical check-up. “The governor chose to remain in Jayapura to deal with this case, even though he should have undergone a medical check-up by a team of doctors in Singapore because he has had four strokes,” he said. (PDS/FLO)

This article was translated by Kesya Adhalia.