Timika – The Task Force Operation Peace revealed the development of the investigation of the PK-RCY aircraft burning case owned by PT Associated Mission Aviation (AMA) and the murder of a pilot from the United States, Captain Nicholas F. Goselin, which happened at Balinggama Airport, Sobaham District, Yahukimo Regency.
The development was conveyed in a media doorstop by the Public Relations Task Force of the Operation Peace Cartenz Chief Commissioner Of Police Yusuf Sutejo, S.I.K., M.T. with the Head of Task Force of the Operation Peace Cartenz Chief Commissioner of Police I Gusti Gde Era Adhinata, S.I.K., in Timika, Wednesday (7/8/2026).
Head of Public Relations of Operation Peace Cartenz, Chief Commissioner of Police Yusuf Sutejo, S.I.K., M.T. explained that the investigator had carried out a crime scene investigation (TKP) on Saturday (7/4/2026) based on Police Report Number LP/A/26/VI/2026/SPKT.Satreskrim/Polres Yahukimo/Polda Papua dated July 2, 2026 regarding the alleged criminal act of murder and/or criminal act that endangers flight safety.
“Upon arrival at the location, the team first secures and sterilizes the crime scene area, then continues with general observation, documentation, shooting, sketching, measuring important points, installing police lines, checking the degree of damage to the aircraft, checking the location where the victim was found, to collecting evidence as part of the investigation process,” said Chief Commissioner Of Police Yusuf Sutejo
The results of the crime scene showed that the Pilatus PC-6/B2-H4 Turbo Porter aircraft with PK-RCY registration suffered damage from the fire of about 90 percent, with the middle of the fuselage being the most severe point of damage. When found, the plane’s position was still pointing to the runway (runway). At the time of the crime scene investigation, the victim’s body had already been evacuated.
In the implementation of the crime scene, investigators secured a number of evidence in the form of a burned PK-RCY aircraft unit, the remains of ash and charcoal from the fire, pieces of the aircraft body, pieces of aircraft tire wire, a piece of 5.56 mm caliber bullet casing, as well as soil samples around the plane wreckage for the purpose of Forensic Laboratory examination.
After processing the crime scene, the team continued to search around the scene and found a honai that was suspected to be used as the headquarters of the Armed Criminal Group (KKB) with a sign that said “Military Regional Command Headquarters TPNPB Kodap VII Balinggama.”
From that location, the officers secured various evidences in the form of one noken, a Kejora Star patterned scarf, one loreng shirt, one loreng pants, one koppel, one sangkur and its sarong, two machete blades, one air gun, one flashlight, two medicine boxes, one Telkomsel SIM card, three flashdisks, four camera memory cards, seven mobile phone memory cards, one Sony camera unit, one tripod, one loreng backpack, and one sling bag containing documents and TPNPB membership identity.
“In the bag, a number of TPNPB member cards were also found along with other documents that are currently in the process of verification and deepening to find out the connection with this incident and the network of groups involved,” explained Kombes Pol. Yusuf Sutejo
All evidence from the crime scene processing and screening has been submitted to the Papua Regional Police Identification Team for forensic laboratory examination, digital forensics, and further analysis to support the evidence in the investigation process.
Meanwhile, the Head of Task Force Gakkum Operation Peace Cartenz-2026 Chief Commssioner of Police I Gusti Gde Era Adhinata, S.I.K. said that based on the results of the investigation, the testimony of the witnesses, the evidence, the results of the crime scene, and the title of the case that has been carried out, the investigator named seven people as suspects in the case by issuing a DPO.
“The result of the case title determined seven people as suspects, namely MB, AB (23), LS (26), DA, NS, KB, and SP. The seven suspects currently have the status of the Wanted List (DPO) and the Cartenz-2026 Peace Operation Task Force continues to pursue and coordinate with all ranks to immediately make arrests,” said Kombes Pol. Adhinata Era.
He explained, based on the evidence that has been collected, the suspects are suspected of jointly killing the pilot and burning a civilian plane which caused the flight safety to be disturbed.
“Towards the suspects are suspected of Primary Article Article 459 of the Criminal Code in conjunction with Article 20 of the subsidiary Criminal Code Article 458 of the Criminal Code in conjunction with Article 20 of the Criminal Code and or Article 586 of the Criminal Code in conjunction with Article 20 of the Criminal Code regarding the criminal act of murder and or the criminal act of endangering flight safety with the maximum criminal threat of 20 years in prison,” he said.
Police Commissioner. Era Adhinata added, based on the results of the investigation, the group is estimated to be around 15 people with weapons in the form of long-barreled firearms, short firearms, and assembled firearms. Investigators are also still investigating the network, movement patterns, and sources of the group’s weapons.
On the same occasion, Chief Commissioner of Police Yusuf Sutejo said that based on the information obtained from the community, before the incident, the residents of Balinggama had expressed their rejection of the group’s existence and wanted their area to remain safe, peaceful, and free from violent acts.
In addition to handling this case, the Task Force Operation Peace Cartenz continues to monitor the movement of armed criminal groups in a number of Papuan regions through increasing personnel vigilance, strengthening the security of vital objects, optimizing early detection, and coordinating with all related elements to keep the security situation conducive.
The Task Force Operation Peace Cartenz emphasized that the law enforcement process will continue to be carried out professionally, measurable, transparently, and in accordance with the provisions of laws and regulations. All parties who are proven to be involved, both as the main perpetrator and the party who helps the criminal act, will be held legally responsible according to the applicable provisions.
The public is also urged to remain calm, not easily influenced by information or propaganda whose truth has not been confirmed, and support the efforts of the authorities in maintaining security and order in Papua.
