Jakarta – Indonesian National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo has praised the Mobile Brigade Corps (Brimob) officers for their successful operation to free Susi Air pilot Philip Mehrtens, who had been held hostage by an armed criminal group (KKB) in Papua. The Police Chief called the successful rescue a significant achievement for Indonesia.
“We managed to rescue the Susi Air pilot, who had been held hostage for almost one year and seven months. This success was the result of the hard work of our team, involving a variety of approaches, both soft and hard,” General Sigit said during the ‘Thanksgiving for the 79th Anniversary of the Brimob Corps’ at the Brimob Headquarters in Kelapa Dua, Depok, West Java, on Thursday (November 14, 2024).
“Alhamdulillah, the pilot was safely secured in good health and handed over to the New Zealand government,” he added. “This achievement is a positive record for us and demonstrates success on the international stage.”
The Police Chief also expressed his appreciation for Brimob’s role in various security operations, both nationally and internationally. He highlighted the professionalism of Brimob personnel in ensuring the safety and smooth conduct of international events, which in turn fosters international trust in Indonesia.
“This builds international confidence in our nation,” said General Sigit.
In addition, the Police Chief personally commended Brimob officers who have excelled in international competitions, noting that their achievements bring pride to both the individual officers and the police institution as a whole.
“I would like to thank all our officers for their dedication and hard work, and I urge them to continue maintaining these high standards,” General Sigit remarked.
Captain Philip Mehrtens, a pilot for Susi Air, was taken hostage by the KKB on February 7, 2023. In response to the kidnapping, the Indonesian Military (TNI) and National Police launched Operation Paro, involving 978 personnel—513 from the military and 465 from the police. The operation emphasized soft approaches, including negotiation efforts, and ultimately led to Mehrtens’ release on September 21, 2024.
