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Labora works and waits, defiant in his fortress
Still standing: Labora Sitorus (second left) talks to employees of PT Rotua in Tampa Garam village, Rufei Coast, Sorong, West Papua, on Thursday
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span class="caption">Still standing: Labora Sitorus (second left) talks to employees of PT Rotua in Tampa Garam village, Rufei Coast, Sorong, West Papua, on Thursday. According to a Sorong prosecutor, Labora was sentenced to 15 years in prison and fined Rp 5 billion (US$390,000) for money laundering. He left prison because he was ill and has not yet returned. (JP/Nethy Dharma Somba)
Across the archipelago, Labora Sitorus is known as a low-ranking police officer with a Rp 1.5 trillion bank account who has been convicted of a crime, yet manages to defy the law and walk free.
To law enforcement officers, he is a money launderer, fuel stockpiler and illegal logger who has used his network to evade a Supreme Court sentence of 15 years in prison and a fine of Rp 5 billion.
The Papua Prosecutor's Office has requested help from the military and police to prevent 'unwanted occurrences' when, or if, the arrest of Labora occurs.
In the meantime, the man remains on a wanted list and has been issued with a travel ban by the Attorney General's Office.
After walking out of Sorong Penitentiary in March last year, Labora returned home to his wife and children at the PT Rotua housing complex in Tampa Garam village, Rufei Coast, Sorong, West Papua.
He lives with dozens of his employees in a workers' dorm at the 7-hectare complex.
Hendrik Wambraku, a local resident who works for Labora, regards his boss as a savior.
'When someone is facing economic hardship, they run to Pak Labora,' said Hendrik, adding that the police officer had helped many people with funds for education, health and food.
His complex can only be accessed via an entrance protected around the clock by private security guards.
Labora's house is located around 300 meters from the entrance, next to the timber-processing factory.
On Wednesday afternoon, several dogs were seen roaming around the house compound and another five dogs were kept in a cage in front of the house.
Labora's office is located on the second floor, where he greets his guests, as well as using it as living quarters. The company provides daily afternoon and evening meals for its 500 workers. Labora and his family eat the same food as his employees, who earn salaries above the monthly West Papua minimum wage of Rp 2 million (about US$160).
New workers and trainees earn Rp 3 million, while permanent workers earn between Rp 6 million and Rp 25 million monthly.
Migrants who move their families to Papua live in the dorm and each is provided with a motorcycle.
Labora, who is married to Sandrintje Panahue, has five children. Four of them attended university ' three of them at medical school, while the youngest is still in senior high school.
'The children are not disturbed by the case facing their father, because all of them know who their father really is,' said Sandrintje.
An hour later, Labora appeared. 'I've just been overseeing my workers,' he said casually.
Labora buys local timber from residents at between Rp 4 million and Rp 6 million per cubic meter and buys up to 60 m3 of timber daily.
'When I'm fit, I help my workers in the factory. I carried out my activities until I was placed on the wanted list by the prosecutors,' he said.
Despite being wanted by the authorities, Labora still believes he is innocent.
'I buy timber from residents in processed form, not whole logs. My company is a secondary industry. You can see for yourself whether there are logs here,' he said.
According to Labora, his case has been completely engineered, from his dossier to the charges levelled against him.
'I have strong evidence [in my favor], but the legal institutions in the country uphold this legal engineering. Who can I turn to? I don't know what will happen next. I'm really confused,' he said.
Labora was convicted by the Sorong District Court and sentenced to two years imprisonment and a fine of Rp 500 million. He filed multiple appeals, but all were rejected, resulting in him receiving a heavier sentence.
He left Sorong Penitentiary in March last year seeking medical treatment, but never returned.
While requesting help from other law enforcers to act against Labora, Sorong prosecutors have yet to make a move to re-arrest the convict for fear of their safety.
