Hearing in trial of four members of the West Papua National Committee Wamena – Jubi
Wamena, Jubi – A hearing in trial of four members of the West Papua National Committee Wamena accused of making explosives to sabotage the 2014 Presidential Election was postponed for the second time due to the absence of witnesses.
The trial will resume next week (Wednesday, 25/02/2015).
The four members are Ibrahim Marian, Yali Walilo, Joni Marian and Marthen Marian. The Jayawijaya arrested them on 11 July 2014 at Wara Village of Pisugi Sub-district, Jayawijaya Regency accusing for the possession of exploisive materials to mess up the Presidential Election 2014.
“The Prosecutor postponed the trial due to problem of presenting the witnesses. The presiding judge will ask the motive of the witnesses’ absence and the prosecutor should be able to prove the letter of summon. There were three or four witnesses have been summoned but they didn’t come to the trial,” Attorney Simon Patirajawane told Jubi at the Wamena District Court on Wednesday (18/2/2015).
According to him, if the witnesses still refused to come, there would be an examination against the witnesses next week. “Because there is a key witness among them. If they are still not coming until next week, they would be questioned and be witnessed to each other,” Patirajawane said.
He expected before the trial against the suspects, the witnesses should be presented in the trial. “But the prosecutor has called them for three or four times but they refused to come. Base on legal perception, if the witnesses refused to come, the prosecutor could force them. But we saw the prosecutor has actually tried by showing the letter of summon,” he said.
Further Partirajawane said he didn’t know why the witness didn’t come although they have right to refuse coming to the trial.
“In my count, the trial has been postponed for five to six times, but I think it wasn’t do on purpose to playing with time because the prosecutor had the evidence,” he said.
Meanwhile a suspect Ibrahim Marian expected this case would be accomplished as soon as possible and found not guilty.
“I and my friends expect they could accelerate this trial and we would be released,” he said at Wamena District Court.
On the same time when they got arrested, the Jayawijaya Police also arrested Yosep Siep with different charge. Siep was taken on the separate trial. (Ronny Hisage/rom).
