Two suspects in the fatal stabbing of a senior Golkar party official in Indonesia’s Maluku Tenggara region have been formally charged and now face the possibility of the death penalty.
Agrapinus Rumatora, widely known as Nus Kei and serving as chairman of the Golkar Party’s Maluku Tenggara regional leadership, was attacked with a sharp weapon shortly after landing at Karel Sadsuitubun Airport in Langgur on Sunday, April 19, 2026. He died from his injuries at the scene.
Police identified Hendrikus Rahayaan and Finansius Ulukyanan as the individuals responsible for the attack. Both were taken into custody following the incident and have since been designated as suspects in the murder investigation.
The case has been forwarded to prosecutors by the Maluku Utara Police Department after completing the initial investigation package, known locally as an SPDP. Authorities confirmed that the suspects remain in detention at a regional police holding facility while legal proceedings move forward.
According to early reports, the motive behind the killing appears to stem from personal retaliation, though investigators have not released further details about the nature of the alleged grievance.
The attack has drawn significant attention due to Nus Kei’s prominent role in regional politics and his affiliation with one of Indonesia’s major political parties. Golkar officials have not issued public statements regarding the incident as of this report.
Legal experts note that under Indonesian law, premeditated murder can carry a sentence of death, life imprisonment, or a fixed term of up to 20 years, depending on the court’s assessment of intent and circumstances.
The prosecution will now review the evidence submitted by police before determining whether to proceed with formal charges that could lead to a capital punishment recommendation.
