Indonesia, New Zealand Deny Bribe Claims in Pilot's Release

Both nations refute allegations by West Papua rebels that a bribe facilitated the release of New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens after 19 months in captivity.

• Phillip Mehrtens, a New Zealand pilot, was released by the West Papua National Liberation Army after 19 months of captivity.
• Rebels claimed that the Indonesian government paid a bribe to a local leader, who then allegedly passed the money to the insurgents.
• Officials from both Indonesia and New Zealand strongly denied any bribe was paid, emphasizing that diplomacy secured Mehrtens' release.
• Mehrtens was captured in February 2023 after landing in the Nduga regency, a region known for its insurgency against Indonesian rule.
• The pilot's release has drawn attention to the ongoing conflict in West Papua, highlighting human rights abuses and the region's struggle for independence.

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