Fake Husband Sprinkled Coffee Powder on Woman's Skeletal Remains to Mask Decomposition Odour in Depok

Jakarta — The skeletal remains of a woman identified as DH (55) who was murdered by her common-law husband in Limo, Depok, in October 2025, had been scattered with coffee powder.

Kombes Pol Iman Imanudin, Director of General Criminal Investigation at Metro Jaya Regional Police, stated that DH’s common-law husband, Ahmad Ronny Hasiholan (44), deliberately did this to mask the foul odour.

“The coffee powder found at the scene was deliberately scattered by the suspect to deceive or conceal the stench resulting from the decomposition of the corpse,” Iman explained to journalists on Wednesday (11 March 2026).

He also impersonated DH by gaining control of the victim’s mobile phone for five months after killing her.

Ahmad killed his wife following a heated argument between the two. The quarrel escalated when DH requested a divorce from Ahmad.

Angered, Ahmad immediately gagged the victim’s mouth before strangling her until she lost consciousness. To ensure the victim was dead, he bound her neck with raffia rope.

He monitored the victim for approximately one hour before leaving the house, taking the victim’s mobile phone and motorcycle.

Ahmad was subsequently arrested by police in Tambun Selatan, Bekasi Regency, one day after DH’s remains were discovered.

Previously, DH’s remains were found inside her home in the Meruyung area of Limo, Depok City, on Saturday morning. When discovered, the victim’s body had been reduced to skeletal remains.

The victim was found in one of her child’s bedrooms, marked with the initial L, covered with a pile of clothing and carpet on the floor.

Chairul Shaleh, Police Chief of Cinere District, explained that the discovery of the victim’s remains began when the victim’s child, L, together with her boyfriend R, came to the house to clean it.

They had previously received information that the victim had travelled to Sukabumi, West Java.