On 3 September 2024, Mr Yeremias Magai, 34, a catechist at Stasi Kristus Raja Damai Nabire and a member of the Nabire District Government Pamong Praja Unit, reportedly died during custody at the Nabire Regional Police, Papua Tengah Province. His death followed a violent arrest related to his alleged involvement in the murder of a security guard named Supriyono, who was killed on 23 August 2024. Mr Magai was detained alongside his colleague, Mr Ken Boga, who faced the same allegations. Mr Boga alleged that both men were subjected to torture during police interrogation. Mr Magai eventually succumbed to the injuries he sustained as a result of the torture. Mr Magai’s relatives reported the case to the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM), seeking legal action against the police.
The chronology of events leading to Mr Magai’s death paints a harrowing picture of the police brutality in West Papua. After their arrest, both suspects were subjected to severe torture while in custody. According to Mr Boga, the two men were blindfolded and beaten with bare hands and heavy tools, including a hammer. Mr Boga recounted witnessing the horrific moment when Mr Magai was beaten to death in front of him. Despite having his eyes covered with tape, Ken managed to watch the torture through a small gap to comprehend the extent of the violence being inflicted upon them. He described how both were tortured into confessing to the murder of Supriyono, despite their innocence.
On 4 September 2024, at approximately 5:00 am, the family was informed and subsequently found Mr Magai’s body at the mortuary of Siriwini General Hospital. The body had been dressed and placed in a coffin arranged by the police (see photo on top, source: independent HRDs). Although the family considered a protest by bringing his body to the police station, they opted instead to bring the body home and prepare the burial.
The Nabire Police Chief attempted to justify the police actions with inconclusive CCTV footage. Still, the family remained unconvinced, asserting that the evidence presented did not match Mr Magai’s physical characteristics. Mr Magai’s relatives are pursuing legal accountability for the acts of torture resulting in his death. They reported the case to the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM), seeking legal action against the police (see photo below, source: Jubi). The Nabire Police chief denied that his men had used torture during custody to force a confession and announced he would meet with Komnas HAM to seek clarity.
Relatives found marks of the torture on Mr Yeremias Magai’s body
Lawyers submit the case to the Komnas HAM representative office in Jayapura, 2.10.2024
Detailed Case Data
name of the location: Nabire (-3.367112518142356, 135.4999483236955)
administrative region: Indonesia, Papua Tengah Province, Nabire Regency, Nabire City
total number of victims: two
period of incident: 03.09.2024
perpetrator: police
perpetrator details: Nabire District Police, Criminal Investigation Unit
Issues: extra-judicial killings, torture, indigenous peoples
Sources: https://jubi.id/polhukam/2024/kuasa-hukum-minta-polda-papua-segera-tindaklanjuti-kasus-kematian-yeremias-magai/, https://jubi.id/polhukam/2024/anggota-polres-nabire-diduga-aniaya-yeremias-magai-hingga-tewas/, https://jubi.id/polhukam/2024/kasus-kematian-yeremias-magai-polda-papua-akan-bertemu-komnas-ham-papua/
| Number | Name, Details | Gender | Age | Group Affiliation | Violations |
| 1 | Yeremias Magai | male | 34 | indigenous | execution, torture |
| 1 | Ken Boga | male | unknown | indigenous | torture |
