Yoseph Syufi is a student at Universitas Muhammadiyah in Sorong and was the deputy coordinator of a West Papuan independence protest held on 18 September 2019. Mr. Syufi was arrested and detained on the same day along with Rianto Ruruk, Manase Baho and Etus Kareth on the day of the protest. This protest was part of the broader political uprising which swept across West Papua from 19 August to 23 September 2019. He was arrested by Sorong Police Resort without a warrant.
Their trial began on 5th March 2020. On 13th May 2020, prosecutors in Sorong,West Papua province, sought one year and four months in jail on charges of treason for Yoseph Syufi, Rianto Ruruk, Manase Baho and Etus Kareth.
Mr Syufi was sentenced to 8 months and 15 days on 27 May 2020 and released at the end of the month.
