Papua Ojek Driver Shot Dead

May 17, 2012


A motorcycle taxi driver was shot dead by an unknown person on Thursday in Mulia, the restive capital of Papua district Puncak Jaya, a Papua Police spokesman said.

The victim was identified as Arkilaus Refwutu, said Sr. Comr. Wachyono, head of the Papua Police’s general detective department.

“The shooting took place as the victim was taking his customer home to Yalinggua village in Mulia,” Wachyono said.

Arkilaus was shot in the face and died instantly, and the assailant fled, Wachyono said, adding that the police had launched an investigation into the case.

The shooting was the latest violent incident to hit Mulia. There have been at least six cases of shootings against civilians and security personnel this year, leaving six people dead. The most notorious was the strafing of a commercial airplane that was landing at Mulia’s airport in April, which left one passenger dead.

Wachyono also said the Papua Police had sent a team to investigate the shooting incident that happened in Paniai, Papua, earlier this week.

On Tuesday, police from the mobile brigade unit (Brimob) reportedly shot five civilians in Paniai, leaving one man dead and four others critically injured.

The investigation team consists of five members and includes the head of the Papua Police Profession and Security Division, the head of the Papua Brimob and a member of the Papua detectives office, Wachyono said.

“Hopefully the team can reach the location as soon as possible so that it can begin investigating the case,” Wachyono said.

The shooting took place during a brawl between the five civilians and three Brimob officers at a billiard-hall near a traditional gold mining site in Nomowodide village, Paniai.

The Papua Police have said that the incident started when the five men tried to force their way onto a table that was already occupied while yelling and threatening the owner. The owner reported the men to the local Brimob post, and three officers arrived shortly thereafter.

Melianus Kegepe, the man who died, was shot in the hip.


(this read in the JG)