L

abora Sitorus was a lowly chief brigadier police officer stationed in a remote area in Sorong, West Papua. But he became a headache for Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna H. Laoly, Attorney General HM Prasetyo, Papua Prosecutor'€™s Office chief Herman da Silva and West Papua Police Chief Brig. Gen. Paulus Waterpauw.

Labora has been included on a list of most-wanted fugitives in the province, although he has not gone anywhere. The owner of dubious bank account containing Rp 1.5 trillion (US$120 million) openly refused to serve his 15-year sentence and pay his Rp 5 billion fine, which were recently requested by the Supreme Court, saying that he was just an innocent victim.

Minister Yasonna said on Monday that Labora remained free because he was protected by a strong network of powerful people. The ministers intended to put Labora in a prison located outside Papua to minimize the risk of escape.

'€œIt is impossible [for him to remain free] if he does not have some support. It means there is a strong network protecting him,'€ Yasonna said concerning Labora.

The Financial Transactions Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK) uncovered his large accounts in 2003. Police later announced that Labora and his family owned several companies that allegedly sold illegal timber and subsidized fuel.

In the meantime, the Papua Prosecutor'€™s Office has formed a special team to bring Labora to prison.

'€œTo arrest Labora, we have formed a team of eight officers who will back up the Sorong Prosecutor'€™s Office and catch him and put him in prison,'€ Herman said at his office in Jayapura on Tuesday.

Besides forming the team, Herman added that his office would also work together with other related agencies to ensure Labora would abide by the law.

'€œWe will also hold meetings with various parties, including the Indonesian Navy naval base X commander, West Papua Police chief and Cenderawasih Military Command chief, so the mission will be secure,'€ said Herman.

The senior prosecutor quickly added that the involvement of the military and police in the Labora search operation did not mean that there were elements within the two institutions acting as Labora'€™s protectors.

'€œWe learned that Labora has many supporters among local residents, such as his employees. So we will try to avoid chaos during the extraction,'€ Herman explained.

Legal observer and practitioner in Papua Latifa Anum Siregar said Labora could not avoid incarceration for any reason because the Supreme Court verdict was final.

'€œHe must obey the ruling. Labora has no excuses,'€ said Latifa.