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2022 Timika killings

SOLVED2022Timika, Central Papua, Indonesia3 SOURCESUPDATED JUL 2026
Illustrative

In August 2022, four men from the Nduga Papuan community — Irian Nirigi, Arnold Lokbere, Atis Tini, and Kelemanus Nirigi — were killed near the city of Timika in Indonesia's Papua region. Indonesian soldiers arrested the four men on 22 August 2022 on the pretext that they were attempting to buy weapons. The soldiers then shot the men dead, dismembered their bodies, and placed the remains in sacks, which were thrown into the Pigapu river.

On 26 August 2022, the bodies were discovered in the Pigapu river near Timika. One of the victims, Kelemanus Nirigi, also known as Leman, was later identified as having served as a weapons supplier for the Egianus Kogoya faction of the TPNPB (the armed wing associated with the Free Papua Movement) operating in Nduga, and had reportedly been tasked with collecting munitions in Mimika.

Following the killings, Mimika military police identified ten anonymous suspects in August 2022. Of the ten, four were civilians — Andre Pudjianto Lee, Dul Uman, Rafles Laksana, and Roy Marten Howay (an Ayamaru Papuan) — and six were active-duty soldiers: a captain, Dominggus Kainama; a major, Helmanto Fransiskus Dakhi; and four privates, Rahmat Amin Sese, Robertus Putra Clinsman, Pargo Rumbouw, and Rizky Oktaf Muliawan. Between 29 August and 17 September 2022, nine of the ten were arrested; the civilian Roy Marten Howay evaded capture.

A military court sentenced Dakhi to life imprisonment on 24 January 2023. On 15 February 2023, a separate military court sentenced the remaining four soldiers among the six: two received life sentences, while the other two were sentenced to 15 and 20 years respectively. Dominggus Kainama, one of the six soldiers implicated, died in incarceration on 24 December 2022, before he could be sentenced.

Key facts

Victims
Atis Tini, Arnold Lokbere, Kelemanus Nirigi, Irian Nirigi
Date
2022
Location
Timika, Central Papua, Indonesia
Case status
solved

Case timeline

  1. 2022-08-22

    Indonesian soldiers arrested Irian Nirigi, Arnold Lokbere, Atis Tini, and Kelemanus Nirigi in Timika, then shot and dismembered them, disposing of remains in the Pigapu river.

  2. 2022-08-26

    The victims' bodies were discovered in the Pigapu river near Timika.

  3. 2022-08-29

    Arrests of suspects began, continuing through 17 September 2022; nine of the ten suspects were apprehended — three civilians and six soldiers — while a fourth civilian suspect evaded capture.

  4. 2022-12-24

    Suspect Dominggus Kainama, a captain, died during incarceration before sentencing.

  5. 2023-01-24

    A military court sentenced Major Helmanto Fransiskus Dakhi to life imprisonment.

  6. 2023-02-15

    A military court sentenced the remaining four soldiers: two to life imprisonment and two to 15 and 20 years respectively.

Best coverage

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People

  • Helmanto Fransiskus Dakhi

    CONVICTED

    Indonesian Army major sentenced to life imprisonment on 24 January 2023 by a military court.

  • Rizky Oktaf Muliawan

    CONVICTED

    Indonesian Army private, one of four soldiers sentenced on 15 February 2023 (received life or a term sentence).

  • Dominggus Kainama

    CHARGED

    Indonesian Army captain charged in connection with the killings; died in incarceration on 24 December 2022 before sentencing.

  • Pargo Rumbouw

    CONVICTED

    Indonesian Army private, one of four soldiers sentenced on 15 February 2023 (received life or a term sentence).

  • Atis Tini

    VICTIM

    Nduga Papuan man killed by Indonesian soldiers in August 2022.

  • Robertus Putra Clinsman

    CONVICTED

    Indonesian Army private, one of four soldiers sentenced on 15 February 2023 (received life or a term sentence).

  • Arnold Lokbere

    VICTIM

    Nduga Papuan man killed by Indonesian soldiers in August 2022.

  • Rahmat Amin Sese

    CONVICTED

    Indonesian Army private, one of four soldiers sentenced on 15 February 2023 (received life or a term sentence).

  • Kelemanus Nirigi

    VICTIM

    Nduga Papuan man killed by Indonesian soldiers in August 2022; later identified as a weapons supplier for the Egianus Kogoya TPNPB faction.

  • Irian Nirigi

    VICTIM

    Nduga Papuan man killed by Indonesian soldiers in August 2022.

Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.

Places

Timika, Central Papua, Indonesia

-4.5459, 136.8874

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Common questions

What happened to the victim?
Four Nduga Papuan men were shot dead, dismembered, and their remains thrown into a river near Timika, Indonesia, in August 2022; Indonesian soldiers and several local civilian suspects were arrested, and several of the soldiers were later convicted by military courts.
Where did the killings happen?
Timika, Central Papua, Indonesia.
Who was convicted?
Helmanto Fransiskus Dakhi (Indonesian Army major sentenced to life imprisonment on 24 January 2023 by a military court.), Rizky Oktaf Muliawan (Indonesian Army private, one of four soldiers sentenced on 15 February 2023 (received life or a term sentence).), Pargo Rumbouw (Indonesian Army private, one of four soldiers sentenced on 15 February 2023 (received life or a term sentence).), Robertus Putra Clinsman (Indonesian Army private, one of four soldiers sentenced on 15 February 2023 (received life or a term sentence).), and Rahmat Amin Sese (Indonesian Army private, one of four soldiers sentenced on 15 February 2023 (received life or a term sentence).).
What is the current status of the case?
Status: solved.
More cases in Indonesia

Sources

  1. Contemporaneous coverage — aljazeera.comnews · aljazeera.com · 2026-07-10
  2. Contemporaneous coverage — BBC Newsnews · BBC News · 2026-07-10
  3. 2022 Timika killingswikipedia · Wikipedia · 2026-07-10