Alleged killer of Riyama denies his earlier confession

Alleged killer of Riyama denies his earlier confession

JAKARTA (JP): Gunadi Tjahyo Wargo, the accused killer of Dr.
Riyama Yawoga, withdrew his previous confessions during
yesterday's trial session at the North Jakarta District Court.

"I am not the killer, Your Honor. I made up those stories
because Ridwan promised me rewards. Now, because he has broken
his promises, I am telling you the whole truth," he told the
court.

Gunadi said in the last examination session of his trial that
Ridwan Surya Danu, a former banker, asked him to find a hired
assassin to kill Dr. Riyama, his clandestine lover.

"But I decided not to find one since my relationship with
Riyama was always good," the defendant said.

Dr. Riyama was found dead in her bedroom on Jan. 14 with her
head nearly severed from her body.

Gunadi told Judge Surti Hari Pramono that Ridwan constantly
pushed him to find an assassin. "He called me four times from
Australia where he spent his Christmas holiday last year,
checking if I had found one for him," he testified.

The defendant said that he was shocked when he was informed by
Ridwan on Jan. 15 that Dr. Riyama had already been murdered.

"Ridwan told me that I must kept silent and admit that I was
the killer," he said.

He said that Ridwan pledged to support his family and to give
him a check worth Rp 100 million (US$46,150) for the cooperation.

Gunadi is charged with killing Dr. Riyama, a mother of two
children who had divorced her husband to marry Ridwan, who was
also married. The crime was reportedly committed at the Ridwan's
behest.

Anton Bachrul Alam, chief of the Penjaringan police
subprecinct told newsmen after Gunadi had been arrested in
January that the murder suspect received Rp 120 million from
Ridwan for committing the crime.

Ridwan's money was believed to have come from Riyama's bank
account. On Dec. 21 Ridwan borrowed Rp 200 million from Riyama to
finance his automobile business, the officer said.

The police then speculated that Gunadi was also having an
affair with Riyama. According to Anton, Gunadi committed the
murder after asking Riyama to lie down on bed and cover her face
with a pillow in preparation for a love game.

On Monday, Ridwan, the victim's alleged lover, told the court
that he was not involved in the murder case. He said that on Jan.
15 Gunadi came to his office to ask about the Rp 100 million
which was a loan proposal.

Ridwan said that he should first ask for Riyama's approval
because the money was actually hers. According to Ridwan, Gunadi
replied that it was unnecessary because she had already been
killed.

Impossible

The witness said on Monday that to convince him that he had
killed the woman, Gunadi showed him her wallet, lipstick and bank
identification card.

But Gunadi told the court yesterday that, "It is Ridwan who
showed me those things. He kept them in his drawer."

The defendant also said that he did not go out on the night of
Jan 14. He said that he stayed at home and slept with his wife
that night.

During yesterday's session, the presiding judge said it was
Gunadi's right to withdraw his confession, but that this would
not automatically free him from the charges.

"Although it is your right to do it, it is impossible for you
to deny all of every statement you made before the court because
you have told us every detail about the murder you once said you
committed," she said.

"You have never shown any objection to the witness's
testimonies against you before this," Surti said.

Surti then reminded Gunadi of the police findings that his
leather sandal was splattered with Riyama's blood, and that his
finger prints were found on Riyama's sofa, on the door handle of
the bedroom and on the car.

The defendant answered that he knew nothing about that.

During yesterday's trial session, Gunadi also denied that he
was a soothsayer who was having an affair with the victim.

The presiding judge adjourned the session until Aug. 8 to give
prosecutors Omsin Subarkah and Yuswa Kusumah time to prepare
their sentence request.

The session was attended by relatives of Dr. Riyama and
Gunadi's wife. (03)