Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06JAKARTA12099
2006-10-02 10:34:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Jakarta
Cable title:
TIMIKA TRIAL: LAST DAY OF VICTIM, EXPERT TESTIMONY
how-toVZCZCXRO6388 OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM DE RUEHJA #2099 2751034 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 021034Z OCT 06 FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0757 INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS IMMEDIATE RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA IMMEDIATE 9966 RUEHPB/AMEMBASSY PORT MORESBY IMMEDIATE 3228 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO IMMEDIATE 0036 RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON IMMEDIATE 1052 RHMCSUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEAWJB/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHHMUNA/CDRUSPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS JAKARTA 012099
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
FBI PLS PASS CTD/ITOS I, CTD/ITOS II, GOU
SECSTATE FOR EAP/MTS, DS/DSS, DS/IP/EAP, DS/EAP/ITA,
CA/OCS/ACS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV ASEC CASC KJUS PHUM ID
SUBJECT: TIMIKA TRIAL: LAST DAY OF VICTIM, EXPERT TESTIMONY
REF: JAKARTA 11892 (WITNESS SNAFU)
UNCLAS JAKARTA 012099
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
FBI PLS PASS CTD/ITOS I, CTD/ITOS II, GOU
SECSTATE FOR EAP/MTS, DS/DSS, DS/IP/EAP, DS/EAP/ITA,
CA/OCS/ACS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV ASEC CASC KJUS PHUM ID
SUBJECT: TIMIKA TRIAL: LAST DAY OF VICTIM, EXPERT TESTIMONY
REF: JAKARTA 11892 (WITNESS SNAFU)
1. (SBU) On September 29, Central Jakarta court heard
testimony from two victim witnesses and two expert witnesses
in the trial of suspects charged in the 2002 murder of two
Americans and one Indonesian near Timika, Papua. Amcit
victim witness Patsy Spier attended, accompanied by an
interpreter and Embassy security personnel.
2. (SBU) Courtroom security was heightened in response to the
disruptions caused by demonstrators during the previous
session (reftel). Before the session opened, a court officer
read out regulations on appropriate conduct in the courtroom.
3. (SBU) The session opened at 13:00. All the defendants
appeared except for accused co-conspirator Hardi Sugimol, who
is ill. The prosecution produced a doctor's letter
explaining Sugimol's condition, and which stated that he is
recovering. It was challenged by defense counsel Johnson
Panjaitan, who said that the letter was written by
prosecution staff, not a doctor, and that his client was ill,
and not recovering as described in the letter.
4. (SBU) The other defendants claimed that they were
suffering from stress resulting from their incarceration and
worry about their families, and that they had been unable to
eat. They therefore said they were too weak to attend the
day's hearing. Although Defense Attorney Panjaitan attempted
to persuade them to stay, they insisted on leaving the
courtroom. Panjaitan wanted to stay on by himself, but the
judge told him that it was against procedures for an attorney
to represent his clients in court without the clients being
present. Panjaitan therefore left the courtroom as well.
5. (SBU) From about 14:45 to 15:30, the prosecution and
judge questioned victim witness Yohannes Bawan, a Freeport
driver who was present at the ambush. Bawan was asked about
his actions during the ambush, as well as what he heard and
saw. Bawan was followed on the stand by victim witness
Ludwik Worotikan, who was shot during the ambush.
Prosecutors asked him about his experiences during the
ambush, as well as about the long-term effects of his injury.
His testimony lasted half an hour.
6. (SBU) From 16:15 - 16:45, prosecutors questioned expert
witness Dr. Wibisono who performed the initial autopsy on the
body of Amcit victim Ricky Spier. Dr. Wibisono provided a
general description of the condition of the body, but
declined to provide a detailed description of the bullet
fragments he had found, saying that he was not an expert in
ballistic matters. From 16:45 - 17:25, Polri ballistics
expert Syafrian was questioned about ballistic evidence found
at the scene, including bullets and casings. Syafrian
offered his opinion on the types of weapons used in the
crime. The ballistic testing carried out by the FBI crime
laboratory was mentioned only in passing.
7. (SBU) At 17:30, court was adjourned until Tuesday, October
3, at which time the cross-examination of the defendants will
begin.
HEFFERN
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
FBI PLS PASS CTD/ITOS I, CTD/ITOS II, GOU
SECSTATE FOR EAP/MTS, DS/DSS, DS/IP/EAP, DS/EAP/ITA,
CA/OCS/ACS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV ASEC CASC KJUS PHUM ID
SUBJECT: TIMIKA TRIAL: LAST DAY OF VICTIM, EXPERT TESTIMONY
REF: JAKARTA 11892 (WITNESS SNAFU)
1. (SBU) On September 29, Central Jakarta court heard
testimony from two victim witnesses and two expert witnesses
in the trial of suspects charged in the 2002 murder of two
Americans and one Indonesian near Timika, Papua. Amcit
victim witness Patsy Spier attended, accompanied by an
interpreter and Embassy security personnel.
2. (SBU) Courtroom security was heightened in response to the
disruptions caused by demonstrators during the previous
session (reftel). Before the session opened, a court officer
read out regulations on appropriate conduct in the courtroom.
3. (SBU) The session opened at 13:00. All the defendants
appeared except for accused co-conspirator Hardi Sugimol, who
is ill. The prosecution produced a doctor's letter
explaining Sugimol's condition, and which stated that he is
recovering. It was challenged by defense counsel Johnson
Panjaitan, who said that the letter was written by
prosecution staff, not a doctor, and that his client was ill,
and not recovering as described in the letter.
4. (SBU) The other defendants claimed that they were
suffering from stress resulting from their incarceration and
worry about their families, and that they had been unable to
eat. They therefore said they were too weak to attend the
day's hearing. Although Defense Attorney Panjaitan attempted
to persuade them to stay, they insisted on leaving the
courtroom. Panjaitan wanted to stay on by himself, but the
judge told him that it was against procedures for an attorney
to represent his clients in court without the clients being
present. Panjaitan therefore left the courtroom as well.
5. (SBU) From about 14:45 to 15:30, the prosecution and
judge questioned victim witness Yohannes Bawan, a Freeport
driver who was present at the ambush. Bawan was asked about
his actions during the ambush, as well as what he heard and
saw. Bawan was followed on the stand by victim witness
Ludwik Worotikan, who was shot during the ambush.
Prosecutors asked him about his experiences during the
ambush, as well as about the long-term effects of his injury.
His testimony lasted half an hour.
6. (SBU) From 16:15 - 16:45, prosecutors questioned expert
witness Dr. Wibisono who performed the initial autopsy on the
body of Amcit victim Ricky Spier. Dr. Wibisono provided a
general description of the condition of the body, but
declined to provide a detailed description of the bullet
fragments he had found, saying that he was not an expert in
ballistic matters. From 16:45 - 17:25, Polri ballistics
expert Syafrian was questioned about ballistic evidence found
at the scene, including bullets and casings. Syafrian
offered his opinion on the types of weapons used in the
crime. The ballistic testing carried out by the FBI crime
laboratory was mentioned only in passing.
7. (SBU) At 17:30, court was adjourned until Tuesday, October
3, at which time the cross-examination of the defendants will
begin.
HEFFERN