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AFP can't intervene in courts: Indonesia

Information about what the AFP has given to Jakarta police to help in the investigation of an alleged cyanide-coffee murder is emerging.

Police guard Jessica Kumala Wongso at Pondok Bambu Penitentiary in Jakarta, Indonesia on Friday, May 27, 2016.
Police guard Jessica Kumala Wongso at Pondok Bambu Penitentiary in Jakarta, Indonesia on Friday, May 27, 2016. Source: AAP

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Source: AAP


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An Indonesian woman accused of murdering her friend allegedly threatened a NSW Ambulance colleague while she was a temporary contractor for the service, Jakarta police say.

It's one of the pieces of information that the Australian Federal Police (AFP) have provided in the case against Jessica Kumala Wongso.

The AFP provided the information after being assured that the death penalty would not be sought or carried out if the 27-year-old was convicted.

But Indonesia's Attorney General Office, police and prosecutors are continuing to say the death penalty is "possible" and that no-one can intervene in the country's judicial system.

Jessica is accused of poisoning her friend with cyanide-laced coffee Wayan Mirna Salihin, also 27, while the two were catching up in a popular Jakarta restaurant in January.

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Part of the brief against her that was handed over to prosecutors on Friday was the information that was gathered by AFP.

This evidence has been slowly trickling out into the media with Jakarta police telling AAP that Jessica had allegedly threatened a colleague while working for NSW Ambulance in Sydney.

When AAP contacted NSW Ambulance for comment, they replied she had worked there as a temporary agency contractor in an administrative position from July 2014 until her resignation in November 2015, but said because it is a legal matter they were unable to comment further.

The AFP has also given local authorities information about an alleged quarrel that was reported to police between Jessica and her then boyfriend - known only as "Patrick" - while they were living in Australia, Jessica's lawyer Yudi Wibowo said on Friday.

There is also a report of her crashing her car into a nursing home in August last year in Sydney.

But Mr Wibowo said he was doubtful the new information could be used during her trial.

Meanwhile Indonesian authorities are continuing to publicly dismiss comments being made by the Australian Attorney General that the AFP only provided assistance after the the government was given the assurance that "the death penalty will not be sought nor carried out in relation to the alleged offending".

Spokesman for the Attorney General's Office, Amir Yanto told AAP on Monday that while the death penalty may not be deemed appropriate in Jessica's case if she were to be convicted, it was up to the court - not prosecutors and police - to determine the sentence.

Jakarta Police spokesman Awi Setiyono also told AAP that "no-one could intervene" in the courts.

"Even the president could not intervene the authority of courts ... The judges decision is absolute ... So if you asked me, where the AFP's information came from, I don't know who. And for the police, there's no possibility for such deal."


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