ODC Task Force Hunts 7 KKB Members Suspected of Shooting AMA Pilot

JAYAPURA - The Cartenz Peace Operation Task Force continues to pursue seven members of the armed criminal group (KKB) who shot pilot Nicholas Goselin and burned the AMA plane in Balinggama, Yahukimo Regency, Papua Mountains, who were designated as suspects.

The seven suspects in the shooting of the AMA pilot were MB, AB, LS, DA, NS, KB, and SP. They are also on the wanted list (DPO).

"The Cartenz 2026 Peace Operation Task Force continues to pursue and coordinate with all levels to arrest them," said Head of the Cartenz Peace Operation Law Enforcement Task Force, Kombes IGGEra Adhinata, as reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, July 8.

He said based on the evidence that had been collected, the suspects were suspected of jointly committing the murder of the pilot of American nationality and burning a civilian aircraft which resulted in the disruption of flight safety.

The group is estimated to have a strength of around 15 people with long-barreled firearms, short firearms, and improvised firearms.

Investigators are still investigating the network, movement patterns, and sources of the group's weapons.

"The suspects are charged with the primary article, namely Article 459 of the Criminal Code in conjunction with Article 20 of the Criminal Code, sub-article 458 of the Criminal Code in conjunction with Article 20 of the Criminal Code and or Article 586 of the Criminal Code in conjunction with Article 20 of the Criminal Code regarding the crime of murder and or the crime of endangering flight safety with a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison," he said.

Meanwhile, the Head of Public Relations and Public Relations of the ODC, Kombes Yusuf Sutejo, explained that investigators had carried out an investigation of the crime scene (TKP) which was carried out on Saturday (4/7), based on Police Report Number LP/A/26/VI/2026/SPKT.Satreskrim/Polres Yahukimo/Polda Papua dated July 2, 2026 regarding the alleged crime of murder and or crime that endanger flight safety.

When carrying out the crime scene, investigators also set up a police line, examined the damage to the aircraft, examined the location where the victim was found, and collected evidence as part of the investigation process.

The results of the crime scene investigation showed that the Pilatus PC-6/B2-H4 Turbo Porter aircraft with registration PK-RCY was damaged by 90 percent due to the fire, with the middle part of the fuselage being the most severe point of damage.

When found, the position of the plane was still heading for the runway, while the body of the pilot Nicholas had been evacuated since Friday (3/7) to Timika, then to Jayapura.

During the implementation of the crime scene investigation, investigators secured a number of evidence in the form of one unit of the PK-RCY aircraft which was burned, the remains of ash and charcoal from the fire, aircraft body fragments, aircraft tire wire fragments, one bullet shell of 5.56 mm caliber, and soil samples around the aircraft wreckage for the purpose of forensic laboratory examination.

After the crime scene investigation, the investigation team continued to search around the scene and found a hut that was suspected of being used as a KKB headquarters with a board that read "Command Headquarters of the TPNPB Kodap VII Balinggama Military District".

Various evidence was secured from the location, such as a noken, one scarf with the Bintang Kejora motif, one loincloth, loincloth pants, one pair, a sling and its sheath, two machetes, a wind gun, mobile phone, and a shoulder bag containing documents and membership identity TPNPB.

In the bag, a number of TPNPB member cards and other documents were also found, which are currently in the process of verification and deepening to find out their connection with the burning of the aircraft or the network of groups involved.

"All evidence from the crime scene and the search has been handed over to the identification team of the Papua Regional Police Criminal Investigation Unit for forensic laboratory examination, digital forensics, and further analysis to support the evidence in the investigation process," said Yusuf.