KUPANG, E. Nusa Tenggara: The Army in East Nusa Tenggara has formed a special team to find a soldier wanted for allegedly killing a Justice and Human Rights Ministry official, an Army official told reporters Thursday.
The Wiraksati Regional Military Command chief, Col. Winston Perdamaian Simanjuntak, said the team would deploy in the western half of Timor Island up to the border with neighboring Timor Leste.
"We have sealed all escape routes. We believe the suspect is hiding in the jungle to evade the manhunt," Winston said.
Chief Sgt. Jemrys Roroh allegedly killed Lorens Horo, also known as Iqbal, on Tuesday evening. Iqbal is head of the legal aid outreach section of the ministry's regional office.
Winston said Jemrys repeatedly stabbed Lorens to death with a bayonet.
It is believed Jemrys killed the victim after being disappointed about profit-sharing in a public transportation venture the two were involved in.
Witnesses said Jemrys arrived at Lorens' house at Artha Graha housing complex in Tuak Daun Merah subdistrict at about 11 p.m.
The autopsy report at Kupang's Bhayangkara Hospital found Lorens died of stab wounds in his head, chest and left arm.
Jemrys also attacked one of Lorens' children, 8, wounding him on his arms.
The victim's older brother, Robert Horo, told reporters he asked the police, the military command and the military police to capture and try Jemrys.
Robert said his younger brother and Jemrys jointly bought a public minivan in 2007.
"Jemrys was dissatisfied with the profit-sharing agreement, which may have led to the murder. He had threatened my younger brother earlier with machetes," he said.
"I filed a report at the Kupang City Police about the threat."
The Wirasakti Regional Military Command spokesperson, Capt. Paulus, said Jemrys was restationed to the Ende District Military Command earlier this year for assaulting the victim.
"He was also put in prison for five months as a disciplinary action," he said.
"After serving three months in Ende, Jemrys was reassigned to the regional command's headquarters in Kupang at the territorial section."
Separately, Kupang City Police chief, Adj. Sr. Comr. Marsudi Wahyuono said the police questioned a number of witnesses and then submitted the case to the Kupang military police as the suspect is a soldier.
"A number of witnesses recalled both Jemrys and the victim were involved in a heated argument. Jemrys escaped after stabbing the victim," he said. -- JP
