Anton Gobay (AG), a pilot from Papua, was arrested by Philipines Police on January 7th, 2023, on smuggling 12 firearms illegally. The said guns is allegedly about to be sold on Papua to support the Armed Criminal Group.
Head of International Relations Division, Inspector General of Police Krishna Murti says that Anton Gobay was arrested along with two others of his colleagues.
“AG admits that he intends to send the guns to Papua to support the activity of a Papuan Organization, yes the Armed Criminal Group. Currently, we are still investigating further on this case,” says Krishna to the media, Wednesday (1/11).
It turns out that AG have also been arrested once in 2014 for treason. He was arrested because he was suspected of attending a coordination meeting of ratification of the West Papua Liberation Army (TNPB), in Warombaim Village, Nimbokrang District, Jayapura Regency.
This was conveyed by the Director of General Criminal Investigation Unit of Papua Police, the Grand Commissioner Faizal Ramadhani in Jayapura on Tuesday (1/17). At that time, other than Anton Gobay, police also arrested 12 others.
However, the case was dismissed and Anton and the others are only required to mandatory reporting.
Faizal says that at that time, Anton Gobay was strongly suspected of being part of West Papua National Committee (KNPB). However, the suspect denies it.
Fast forward to 2018, Anton Gobay was supected to meet with Sebby Sambom who is known as the spokesperson for the TNPB-Free Papua Organization (OPM). The meeting was in Phillipines and there was a video of Sebby who tried several guns from AG.
“At the end of 2018, AG was seen to have met with Sebby Sambom in Phillipines. Allegedly, they were talking about guns because Sebby who are trying out several of those in the meeting, seen in the video,” says Faizal.
Moreover, Faizal still couldn’t make sure if AG have smuggled the weapons prior to this case.
“We are still investigating those possibilities,” he said.