Depok Mutilation Suspect Had Only Been Renting with Another Man for 7 Months

Police have arrested Saepul (26), the perpetrator who killed and mutilated a man named Kunaefi (51) in Cipayung, Depok City, West Java. The suspect had only been renting the property for seven months with another man, identified by the initials JJ.

“I first came across them renting here while I was doing my rounds during Ramadan activities. That was about six or seven months ago. I met the victim and the killer then,” said Aris, head of the local neighbourhood association (RT 03/05), to reporters in Cipayung Jaya, Depok, on Wednesday.

Aris recounted that he had once reminded Saepul to report his residency when he passed by the rented house. “I was doing my rounds, and the door happened to be open. I asked, ‘Are you renting here?’ He replied, ‘Yes, sir, are you the RT?’ I said yes, and asked if he had reported yet. He said, ‘Not yet, sir, I just moved in.’ I told him, ‘Alright, I’ll wait. Please prepare your ID and Family Card.’ I asked how many people were living there, and he said two people, adding that they were opening a business here,” Aris explained.

Aris mentioned that the victim and Saepul ran a business together. When he met the suspect, Saepul claimed he had not reported his residency because he was too busy. “I think it was either ketoprak or martabak, I forget. That was a few months ago. After that, the next time I met him was during a charity distribution for orphans. I asked again if he had come to my house, and he said, ‘Not yet, sir, we haven’t had time because we leave in the morning and come back at night. We always have activities,’” he said.

Aris stated that Saepul lived with his friend JJ. “From what I know, based on information from the Resmob unit, the person living there was named JJ, or something like that, along with Ipul,” he said. “But during my rounds, the person I always met at the rented house was the tall one who committed the murder and the victim.”

Aris admitted he did not know the suspect well and described Saepul’s personality as reserved. “As a neighbourhood official, I only know so much. And as you may have already heard from Mr Sunardi, my resident who lives closer, the person was quite reserved, very reserved,” he said.

Police are still investigating the motive behind the murder and mutilation. Officer Ipda Breggy Yesaya Imanuel Sutijono of the Polda Metro Jaya Criminal Investigation Directorate said authorities are continuing to question the suspect to uncover the real motive. It was discovered that the suspect had stolen the victim’s motorcycle and belongings. “The motive for the murder is still under investigation. However, facts have emerged that the suspect is believed to be a homosexual,” Ipda Breggy said in a statement on Wednesday.