The Papuan news outlet Tabloid Jubi published an article about another extra-judicial killing in Wogikel Village of the Ilwayap District, Merauke Regency. An intoxicated police officer with the initials RK shot dead Yohanes Octo Moiwend on 4 June 2019, around 0.30 am. The shooting occurred during a dispute between RK and Yohanes Octo Moiwend in front of a local bar. RK and two bar owners dragged Yohanes Moiwend outside the bar and collectively beat him. Witnesses stated that officer RK pulled his revolver and repeatedly hit Yohanes Moiwend with the gun handle before he released two shots. Yohanes Moiwend sustained a bullet wound near the ear, causing his instant death.
The head of the Papuan Regional Police (Polda Papua), Rudolf Roja, confirmed the incident, which is the second extra-judicial killing in the Wogikel Village in the past ten months. On 13 September 2018, joint police and military officers killed an indigenous villager named Yudas Gebze shortly after arrest. Human rights defenders claimed that the Yudas Gebze died as a result of disproportionate use of force and torture. The police denied any wrongdoing, arguing that Yudas Gebze resisted the arrest and fell on broken glass.
According to a spokesman of the Papua Regional Police (Polda Papua) the police internal investigation body PROPAM will initiate a internal investigation on violation of the police ethic code. He further stated that the case has already been submitted to the public prosecution for further processing in a public court. However, the police pressed charges on ill-treatment resulting in the death of a person with a maximum penalty of 7 years imprisonment. Human rights observers criticized the use of ill-treatment charges, arguing that sentences will not bring upon a sufficient deterrent effect. They claimed that the perpetrator shall be charged with homicide, punishable with 20 years and even life imprisonment.
