Forensic Doctor: Bank Branch Head Ilham Died from Strangulation, Nail Marks Found on Neck
A forensic doctor from RS Polri, Dr Asri Megaratri, explained the cause of death of the bank branch head named M Ilham Pradipta. She stated that Ilham died from being strangled until he ran out of oxygen.
“A force pressing on the neck compresses the major blood vessels carrying oxygen from the heart to the brain. If compressed, the brain does not receive oxygen. That is what caused him to die from asphyxiation. Death by asphyxiation is a mechanism where death occurs gradually due to lack of oxygen. That is why his body also turned bluish or purplish,” said Asri during the trial at the Jakarta Military Court on Monday (11/5/2026).
She said Ilham died from strangulation. She noted that the condition of the skin on Ilham’s neck also showed signs of violence.
“So there are characteristic marks on the neck skin in the form of nails, like curved lines. That seems to match strangulation,” she said.
Asri stated there was violence to the victim’s chest that caused broken bones. However, that was not the cause of death.
“It did occur shortly before death and it was severe, so I concluded that the cause of death for this person was the neck, not the chest. Because on the chest there was also blunt force trauma causing broken bones, but on the neck, that is the path of oxygen to the brain, so that was the dominant cause of death,” she said.
She also mentioned wounds on the victim’s face and other parts of the body. The prosecutor then asked about the estimated time of Ilham’s death.
According to Asri, Ilham died about 14 hours before the autopsy. The autopsy process itself began around 2:00 p.m. WIB on 21 August 2025.
“Going back 14 hours, what is the estimated time of death? Subtracting 14 means around midnight. 14 minus eight is 6 a.m. Between midnight and 6 a.m. Midnight to 6 a.m., right?” asked the prosecutor.
“Yes,” replied Asri.
This trial at the Jakarta Military Court is being held to try three TNI soldiers as defendants. They are:
Serka Mochamad Nasir (MN)
Kopda Feri Herianto (FH)
Serka Frengky Yaru (FY)
This case is also being tried at the Jakarta Timur District Court with civilian defendants. The defendants tried at the PN Jaktim are accused of premeditated murder against Ilham.
The following are the defendants being tried at PN Jaktim:
Dwi Hartono
Candy alias Ken
Antonius Aditia
Yohanes
Umri
Reviando
Andre
Emanuel
Johanes
David
Anthonio
Aloysius
Erasmus.
The murder was related to an attempt by the defendants to steal funds from dormant accounts. The value of the money they intended to steal amounted to Rp 455 billion.
Prosecutors stated that the defendants needed Ilham to facilitate the transfer of the money. Ilham was then kidnapped and tortured until he died.