Indra Subagja, Jakarta — Former Garuda executive
director Indra Setiawan’s attorney has confirmed
that his client issued an instruction to Pollycarpus
Budihari Priyanto to be on duty on the aircraft
carrying human rights activist Munir after receiving
a letter from the National Intelligence Agency
(BIN).

According to an admission by Setiawan, he gave the
“letter of recommendation” from BIN directly to
Pollycarpus. "PC handed the letter over directly to
Indra at the Sahid (Hotel), sometime in July. This
is based on an admission by Indra in the police
interrogation report", said Setiawan’s lawyer
Antawirya J Dipodiputra, when speaking in Jakarta on
Friday August 10.

According to Antawirya a high-ranking BIN official
signed the letter. "So Pak Indra was unable to
refuse. The letter had a BIN letter head and (the
initials of BIN official - Ed.) AS who signed it. In
the letter it itemised the reasons for the
assignment. At the bottom of the letter it also
listed CCs to a number of parties such as the
minister for state owned enterprises", said
Antawirya.

One of the reasons for the assignment was to ensure
flight security. Setiawan received the letter
because it was sent officially by a government
agency. "It was a sensitive time then because of the
Bali bombing right. Moreover the letter did not have
an order to commit murder. It only referred to
general issues so there isn’t a problem", he added.

Why however was Pollycarpus asked to carry out the
assignment? "I don’t know the reasons for that, but
informally Polly[carpus] was often given duties as a
corporate security officer at Garuda, although in
formally terms only after the letter was issued",
said Antawirya.

Antawirya went on to explain that Pollycarpus was
indeed considered to be a capable individual because
he was often given the task of a mediator when
Garuda had problems, particularly with its
employees. "He was once a mediator during a noisy
pilot’s strike", he said.

Why did the meeting between Pollycarpus and Setiawan
to hand the letter over take place at the Sahid
Hotel, whereas it was an official office assignment?
"Pak Indra usually met his guests and colleagues at
the Sahid. Just ask, all of the people at the Sahid
know him. Moreover the letter was top secret from an
official agency right", added Antawirya.

Meanwhile when Detik.com sought confirmation,
Pollycarpus’ attorney M Assegaf said that they would
be writing to BIN to enquire about Setiawan’s
claims. According to Assegaf, it makes no sense for
BIN to have issued a letter linked with an attempt
to murder Munir.

"Pak Indra’s information makes suspicions of the
involvement of people from BIN even stronger. It
makes no sense for BIN to openly issue a letter to
carry out a conspiracy to murder. Because in its
actions, intelligence is usually a ’silent
operation’", explained Assegaf.

Assegaf said that it is extremely important to
obtain information from BIN because the written
request (to fly to Singapore as an assistant staff
member in corporate security) from As’ad was also
included in a judicial review statement on behalf of
his client Pollycarpus.

"Indra Setiawan’s information is that Polly’s
assignment was because of a written request from
As’ad. This is in Indra’s interrogation report that
was also included in the judicial review statement
on behalf of Polly", said Assegaf (ndr/nrl)

Notes:

In a separate report by Detik.com on the start of
the judicial review, Assegaf explained that the
original letter from As’ad disappeared along with
Setiawan’s bag in late December 2004.