Former banker denies role in his lover's death

JAKARTA (JP): A former banker who is accused of arranging the murder of his lover, Dr. Riyama, on Jan. 14, has denied any involvement in the killing.

"I do not know why Gunadi came to my office on Jan. 15, carrying Riyama's belongings," Ridwan Surya Danu told the North Jakarta District Court yesterday when the judge asked him about Gunadi's presence in his office after the killing.

Earlier, he admitted that, after committing the murder, Gunadi came to his office and showed him some of the victim's belongings such as a lipstick, a wallet and a bank identification card.

Gunadi, a soothsayer, was allegedly hired by Ridwan to kill his lover, Dr. Riyama. Riyama was a mother of two who had just divorced her husband to marry Ridwan, a former banker who was also married.

Anton Bachrul Alam, chief of the Penjaringan police subprecinct, said Gunadi received Rp 120 million (US$55,375) from Ridwan to commit the murder. Ridwan's money was believed to have come from Riyama's bank account. On Dec. 21 Ridwan borrowed Rp 200 million ($92,290) from Riyama to finance his automobile business.

The police have speculated that Gunadi was also having an affair with Riyama. According to Anton, Gunadi committed the murder by asking Riyama to lie down on the bed and cover her face with a pillow in what he led her to believe was a love game.

In the court session presided over by judge Soemarjono yesterday, Ridwan said that Gunadi came to his office on Jan. 15, to ask him if he had approved Gunadi's loan proposal of Rp 100 million ($46,150). Ridwan said that he had to ask for Riyama's approval first.

Thought

Ridwan said that since the money was borrowed from Riyama and Gunadi did not have any collateral, he thought that the doctor's approval was needed.

"But Gunadi said that there is no need to have Riyama's approval because she was already dead," said the defendant.

He said that he did not realize that Riyama was already dead until after Gunadi had told him.

Ridwan also said that Gunadi threatened to kill his family if he told the police about the murder.

Bambang Hartono, Ridwan's lawyer from Denny Kailimang and Rudy Lontoh's office, said after the trial was adjourned that it is impossible for his client to have ordered Gunadi to murder Riyama.

During the court session, Ridwan also denied that he had called Gunadi several times from Australia between Dec. 25, 1993 and Jan. 1, 1994, to check if Gunadi had killed Riyama.

"I only called my house once and my office twice," he said.

However, Omalia Kumara, the dead doctor's mother, said that Ridwan had lied, "He was the one who repeatedly called Gunadi from Australia, asking why the murder had not been committed," she said.

The presiding judge adjourned the court session until Aug. 8 to allow time for the prosecutor to prepare the sentence request statement. (03)