Sep 20 at 4:22a.m.
Troppodoc for the last 10 days has been in Padang - Derek, at the request of Indonesian Ambassador to NZ, and MR. There is a small window of opportunity to get the criminal charges dropped, as there is now a new Kapolda and a new Governor. So at the end of Idul Fitri, there we were to see the Kapolda as requested.
We got to see Head of Special Investigations Pak Budi, who talked to us and advised us to come back the next day with my lawyer, and he would make a decision to proceed the charges to the DA Office, or drop the charges of 'flying illegally into, out of, or across, Indonesian air space' when I flew on May 20th 2008 to rescue Darren Longbottom.
Two days later we were interrogated by Pak Ali and comrades, and following this interrogation the police will ask an aviation expert to come from Jakarta to Padang, to discuss the case. This request was also made 18 months ago and the police received no reply. So I wait until this coming Thursday to see what has happened. If nothing, then I have offered to expedite the process by paying for travel and accomodation for police to go to Jakarta. I am told this connection must be done in person!
So I wait for this personal connection to be made, so the decision can be made to proceed with the charges to the District Attorney Office, or the Criminal Charges will be dropped. I am told by the Indonesian Ambassador to New Zealand, that it is illegal for me to work for the poor in Pulau Tello, while I am under charge and thus cannot apply for a Social Visa. Meanwhile, I hear of women and children dying in and soon after childbirth in Pulau Tello.
::: Derek has learnt that should he get convicted (which side has favour with the judge), he is likely to lose his New Zealand Doctor Registration - unable to work as a doctor anywhere in the world.
The picture taken 2yrs ago, shows Dr Derek hovering his helicopter at Padang Airforce Base, Indonesia. Unfortunately he is not allowed to hover it now.