Alleged killer retracts testimony

JAKARTA (JP): The main defendant in the Rohadi family murder case yesterday retracted statements given earlier to police investigators admitting to the crime.

In a packed East Jakarta district courtroom Philipus Kia Lejab, the prime suspect in the murder of a woman and her three children in the Bambu Apus sub-district on Oct.2, 1995, repeatedly said that the reports consisted primarily of police concoctions.

"I hereby retract my earlier testimony filed with the police investigators because the police report is not authentic evidence but is meant to aid the search for truth in court," Philipus said.

Judge Soenarto, leading the team of judges then questioned Philipus, asking him about the precise statements he would like to retract.

Philipus retracted most of his statements regarding his involvement in the murder, again saying that he and other suspects were forced to admit to wrongdoings.

"The police told me that our stories needed to be synchronized in order for them to flow smoothly," Philipus said.

Philipus also denied owning pieces of evidence confiscated from his house as he had earlier admitted.

The team of judges also noted the discrepancy of several conflicting statements in Philipus' testimony and urged the defendant to tell the truth according to his conscience instead of making things up.

On several occasions the judges had to calm arguments between the defendant's lawyer, O.C. Kaligis, and prosecutor Saleh Abdurrachman and also remind the watching public to behave themselves.

Rohadi, husband and father of the murdered woman and children, was also present and as outspoken as most of the emotion-laden crowd.

Besides Philipus, four other suspects have been detained for their alleged roles in the murder. Philipus' wife, Suparmi, and three other children are still being tried by separate panels of judges.

The trial was adjourned until Monday. (14)