Misi Sowi Pahabol is a member of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB). He was wrongfully arrested on 7 March 2018. He was accused of assaulting two medicine sellers that took place near the KNPB’s Jayapura secretariat.
On 27 February 2018, two unknown men who identified themselves as medicine sellers came to the KNPB secretariat in Jayapura. KNPB members asked them to leave when the two men failed to show the medicines they claimed to be selling. A fight broke out when they refused to leave. Police later arrested eight KNPB members for assault including Misi Sowi Pahabol and Rizal Pahabol. Five were released but the three remained in custody including Misi and Rizal Pahabol. At the time of his arrest, Misi Sowi Pahabol was 18 years old. The police did not provided letter of arrest at the time of arrest. Both letters of arrest and detention were provided only after being detained.
The two and their lawyers maintained that they were innocent and were targeted due to their involvement with KNPB. Both were later convicted by the Jayapura District Court. Each was sentenced to one year and five months in prison and currently serving time in Abepura prison
