Pollycarpus Budihari Priyanto, 44, has been identified by government-appointed prosecutors as the sole suspect in Munir Said Thalib's murder, despite a fact-finding team's report that intelligence agency officials may have been involved -- ex-dictator Gen. Suharto's security forces remain powerful. Munir's supporters insist the pilot did not act alone, accusing the government of failing to look for the masterminds.

Prosecutor Domu Sihite told judges at the Central Jakarta District Court the off-duty pilot arranged for Munir to be upgraded from economy to business class on the Sept. 7, 2004, flight to Amsterdam, and then ordered two flight attendants to put arsenic into his orange juice.

Pollycarpus, who has denied the charge, faces the death sentence if convicted. The trial was adjourned until Aug. 16, when he will be given a chance to respond.

The Japan Times: Aug. 13, 2005
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