Dossier ready in mutilation case

JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta Military Police will submit the dossier of Air Force First Sgt. Uki Wardana, 24, who has confessed to murdering his girlfriend and dismembering her body last month, to military prosecutors next week, an official said Saturday.

Uki will be tried by a military tribunal, Jakarta Military Police Commander Col. Hendardji said after attending a parade by Jakarta security forces Saturday.

"The trial will be opened to public. Why? Because it is a murder case, not a personal matter. So people are welcome to watch the trial process," Hendardji said.

Uki admitted murdering Rahayu Chaeranti alias Butet, 29, after she demanded he marry her and dumping her mutilated body in two separate places.

Her torso was found in a fish pond in Pondok Ranggon, Cipayung, East Jakarta, and her head, feet and arms were recovered at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base, also in East Jakarta.

Uki was arrested by East Jakarta Police at his boardinghouse in the Lubang Buaya area on June 29, a few hours after on-duty officers at the Air Force base found Butet's remains. (edt)