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)