The deputy head of the Indonesian State Intelligence Agency of the Riau Bambang Islands province, Panji Priyangodo, has filed a defamation lawsuit against a Catholic priest who accused him of engaging in human trafficking. This was reported on March 22 by UCA News.
According to the post, later on March 18, the official decided to drop a defamation lawsuit against the president of the Pankalpinang Diocese’s Commission for Justice for Migrants and Pastoral Care for Peace Abroad, Father Chrisanctus Paschalis Saturnus, who accused Priyangodo of complicity with humans. criminal traffickers.
The official’s lawyer, Ade Darmawan, said Priyangodo withdrew the case after praying and receiving “instructions to forgive” the priest.
“Our client in his prayers asked for an answer. Stop or continue this business? He decided to go away and forgive what Father Paschalis had done.”explained the lawyer.
He noted that the upcoming holy month of Ramadan, when Muslims around the world fast and pray, also influenced Priyangodo’s decision.
Recall that earlier Saturnus alerted human rights organizations about the smuggling of workers through Indonesian ports close to the Malaysian and Singaporean borders.
In the letter, the priest alleged involvement in these crimes by Priyangodo, who works with intelligence agencies in the Riau Islands, a transit point for illegal immigrant workers from Indonesia heading to Malaysia and Singapore.
Father Saturno stated that Priyangodo’s intervention led to the release of criminals in one of the cases in which he participated as a witness. Priyangodo then filed a defamation suit against the priest.
Priests and nuns from various Indonesian dioceses called on President Joko Widodo to intervene and investigate Priyangodo’s alleged involvement.
Let us also remember that in 2019, Father Saturno received an award from the Agency for the Protection of Witnesses and Victims for his work in the protection of victims of the slave trade.
His lawyer, Muhammad Ilyas, said the withdrawal of Priyagodo’s claim “does not affect Fr. Saturn to the cause of the fight against human trafficking”.
For this reason, according to him, the priest is still waiting for a response from the government to his complaint and the alleged involvement of Prianggodo, as well as an apology from him.
Source: Rossa Primavera
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