Allen Halitopo was arrested on 15 January 2019 during a raid at ULMWP office in Sentani, Jayapura Regency. He was arrested along with Wene Bahabol and several others without warrants.
His trial took place in the Jayapura District Court in April 2019. He was found guilty of electricity theft and was sentenced to 7 months in prison. He was released after serving his sentence.
Previously…
Allen Halitopo, chairman of the Sentani chapter of the West Papua National Coalition (KNPB Sentani), was arrested on 20 October 2018. Members of the Sentani City Police, patrolling the intersection at Pasar Lama Sentani, Jayapura, caught Allen and three of his friends selling stickers depicting the image of the Morning Star flag. They were taken to Jayapura Regional police station for questioning. Upon arrival at the police station, Allen was searched and police found a knife in his pants pocket. He had obtained the knife from a colleague who had organised him to sell stickers. Allen intended to put the knife in a safe place before he was caught during a police patrol. Allen did not receive a Notice of Arrest or Detention, nor did he have a lawyer present during the questioning. All three of Allen’s friends were later released by the police, while he was detained at the Jayapura Regional Police Station on charges of possession of sharp weapons without a permit.
Allen Halitopo had been arrested previously, on 16 September 2013, for leading a peaceful demonstration to commemorate International Democracy Day on 15 September 2013. The Sentani City police, Jayapura Regency, detained Allen for several hours before releasing him without charges.
