Alleged killer retracts testimony

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)