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Security forces detain suspect in NZ pilot kidnapping
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Egianus Kogoya, a suspected Papuan separatist rebel, sits on a captured plane piloted by New Zealand national Phillip Mehrtens in Papua Highlands province in this undated picture released on Feb. 14. (Reuters/West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB))
T
he joint Indonesian Military (TNI) and police rescue team hunting for abducted New Zealand pilot Phillip Merthens in Nduga regency, Papua Highlands, has captured a suspect thought to be responsible for burning Merthens’ aircraft some two months ago.
Head of the team, codenamed Peaceful Carstensz, Sr. Comr. Era Adhinata of the Papua Police said in a statement on Monday that authorities had detained Yomse Lokbere, believed to be a subordinate of West Papua Liberation Army (TPNPB) commander Egianus Kogoya, last week.
Aside from burning the Susi Air aircraft, Era said that Yomse was thought to have taken part in at least four other criminal incidents.
"Yomse is suspected of being involved in the burning of a dorm belonging to construction workers from PT Dolorossa in 2021. He is also suspected of being involved in the shooting down of the SAM Air airplane at Kenyam Airport in the capital of Nduga regency on June 7, 2022," Era said, as quoted by kompas.id.
While not much is known about the PT Dolorossa incident, the shooting down of the SAM Air aircraft did not result in any casualties, as the pilot and co-pilot of the cargo plane managed to evade capture by rebel forces.
Era also said that the Peaceful Carstensz team had confiscated over 2,400 rounds of ammunition, 17 magazines and four firearms belonging to the TPNPB after Yomse revealed their location following days of police interrogation.
Some of the ammunition and firearms were thought to originally belong to the TNI, before the TPNPB stole them.
