Employee gets 9 years for murder

Employee gets 9 years for murder

BOGOR (JP): A 30-year-old man was sentenced at the local district court here on Friday to nine years in prison for killing his boss, a used iron merchant, last November.

Judge Sri Koestati said the defendant, Abas Basuki, killed 41- year-old Ardja Doemari Sutandar at the latter's warehouse in Ciparigi village.

According to Sri, the defendant violated Article 338 of the Criminal Code on murder which carries a maximum of 15 years imprisonment.

The sentence was four years less than requested by prosecutor Eri Syarifah.

The judge said the offense was sparked by the unwanted arrival of Abas, an employee of the victim, at the warehouse on Nov. 12.

The defendant met Ardja, who was alone, to ask for a fee he was to receive after selling some of his used aluminum.

Instead of paying Abas, the merchant told the employee that he had no money and threw a Rp 1,000 (14 U.S. cents) banknote at him.

"The defendant was offended and became upset. He then decided to leave," Sri quoted Abas as saying.

However, on the way to the door the defendant saw a wooden bar near Ardja's sleeping dog, she said.

He then took the bar and beat the animal to death in anger, she said.

"The victim became very angry when he saw the incident. Ardja then scolded Abas with 'you're an animal' ... 'you're the devil'," Sri said.

Having heard Ardja say this, the defendant turned back and chased his boss with the wooden bar in hand.

He then repeatedly beat his employer with the bar.

The victim first tried to defend himself but he fell to the ground after the bar hit one of his legs.

Ardja was beaten to death and sustained blows to the head, chest and stomach.

"The defendant then took the dead body and dumped it into an old well near the warehouse," Sri said.

Abas also put chairs, used tires, plywood and pieces of old iron sheets down the well on top of the body. (24/emf)