Lukas reportedly crossed into Papua New Guinea on an ojek (motorcycle taxi) using routes mostly frequented by border tribes and was only confronted after authorities in Vanimo were tipped off about his presence. He was reportedly seeking a traditional cure.

Home Minister Tito Karnavian regretted the incident and reprimanded Lukas immediately, saying the governor had not asked the ministry for permission to go abroad.

“I have told him, whatever his excuse, it was wrong and violated the rule not to go abroad without a permit, especially during a pandemic,” Tito said in Jayapura on Monday, as quoted by kompas.com.

Lukas crossed the Papua-Papua New Guinea border with two of his relatives on March 31. They stayed at Medallion Hotel in Vanimo, the Papua New Guinea capital, for two days. The Papua New Guinea authorities decided to send Lukas back to Papua after declaring him and his relatives illegal crossers.

Tito said he knew Lukas had gone to Jakarta frequently to treat his undisclosed illness. It was reported in April 2020 that Lukas chartered a plane to visit Gatot Subroto Army Hospital (RSPAD) in Central Jakarta for his medical checkup, but could not finish the treatment due to a tight schedule. At the time, it was rumored that he had contracted COVID-19, but it was denied after his tests came back negative. It was not detailed whether he went to Jakarta to treat the same illness as the one treated in Papua New Guinea.

Read also: Papua administration denies governor in Jakarta for coronavirus treatment

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