Police intelligence officers arbitrarily arrested Nerry Heluka along with two others at Sentani Airport as they were getting out of a taxi to travel from Jayapura to Wamena. At the time of the arrest, they were struck on the body and head and then taken to KP3 Sentani Airport Police Station. Nerry was subjected to intimidation and coercive questioning. He was accused and coerced into admitting that he was a member of the TPNPB. Nerry was then transferred to the Papua Regional Police Headquarters (Polda Papua) and detained there without access to legal representation.