Rizal 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; five were released but Rizal Pahabol remained in custody. He was 19 years old when arrested. The police did not present letter of arrest during his arrest. Both letters of arrest and detention were provided only after being detained.
His lawyers maintained that he was innocent and was targeted due to his involvement with KNPB. Mr. Pahabol was convicted by the Jayapura District Court with a sentence of one year and five months in prison. He is currently in jail in Abepura prison.
