Tolikara DPRD Chair Denies Money Transfer To Papuan Armed Group Arms Sellers

Chairman of the Tolikara Regency DPRD, Sonny Wanimbo (center) accompanied by his attorney, Aloysius Renwarin (Muhsidin/Antara)

JAKARTA - The chairman of the Tolikara Regency DPRD, Sonny Wanimbo, denied knowing the perpetrators selling weapons and ammunition for the armed group Ratius Murib alias Neson Murib who was arrested by the Nemangkawi Operations Task Force.

"I do not know the perpetrators of RM. The information says I know and study in Bali. Meanwhile, until now I am studying at a university in Jakarta and still pursuing postgraduate education," Wanimbo said in a statement to the media in Jayapura, Papua, Saturday, June 19.

He said reports in the media that had linked him with transferring money to gun dealers to armed groups who were caught were simply not true.

"I am a Tolikara person while the perpetrator is from Puncak Jaya, yes, this is not true what the accusations against me as chairman of the Tolikara DPRD are," he said.

This hoax information, according to Wanimbo, greatly defameed his reputation and systematically killed his personal character, as well as the chairman of the Tolikara DPRD.

"I will take legal action against parties who have harmed their reputation. Later, the attorney will see further treatment," he said, accompanied by his attorney, Aloysius Renwarin, and a former member of the DPR, D Dwijangge.

Wanimbo said that until now there has been no summons to him for questioning regarding his relationship with the perpetrators of selling weapons and ammunition to armed groups.

Nemangkawi Operations personnel have arrested one perpetrator who sold weapons and ammunition to armed groups in Puncak Jaya, Ratius Murib alias Neson Murib, and confiscated evidence in the form of cash around Rp. 370 million.