Four arrested for roles in brutal Ciracas killing
Four arrested for roles in brutal Ciracas killing
JAKARTA (JP): City Police have arrested a 47-year-old man along with his teenage son and two nephews for their alleged roles in the brutal killing of a housewife and her three children in Ciracas, East Jakarta.
Police also confiscated a 75-centimeter-long blade, two 10- centimeter daggers and a small knife believed to have been used in the killings, head of the City Police Crime Investigation Directorate for General Affairs, Lt. Col. Gories Mere said yesterday.
The suspects are identified as Philipus Kia Lodjat, a security officer at private schools, his son Albertus, 15, and his nephews Clemens, 13, and Lambertus, 12.
Fingerprint
The four, who have been under interrogation since Thursday, were named as suspects on Friday evening soon after the police found Philipus' fingerprints on a piece of paper in a bag at the scene of the crime.
Speaking at a press conference yesterday, City Police Chief Maj. Gen. Dibyo Widodo said that the motive for the killing of Eli, 31, and three of her children, aged two, four and eight, was due to a grudge. According to Dibyo the murders were premeditated.
Just hours after the four bodies were found by Rohadi's eldest daughter, Mayke Puspitasari, police dogs led detectives to Philipus' house. Mayke also said Philipus was standing near her house when she came out of the house crying for help.
Dibyo said that according to results of the preliminary investigation a number of cassava trees planted by Philipus on the plot of land, which is about 100 square meters, had been destroyed by Rohadi's children. The plot belongs to Philipus.
Philipus also found that a small structure he built on the site for resting had been vandalized. "These things might have hurt him," Dibyo said.
Police also learned that Philipus' wife, identified as Suparmi, 40, and his niece, Suzana, 24, previously knew of the murder plan but did not report to the police.
By law the two cannot be charged as suspects in the killings, Dibyo added.
"They will only be listed as witnesses in this case," Lt. Col. Gories Mere told The Jakarta Post yesterday.
The Philipus' and their relatives live together in a house about 100 meters away from Rohadi's.
If found guilty the suspects may face the death penalty.
Dibyo said that several hours before the tragedy, Eli asked for Philipus' permission to air her clothes on his land.
Philipus agreed, but asked her to have her children stop playing on his land.
Peanuts
After that, Eli went to buy peanuts at a nearby shop while Philipus went back home to prepare the butchery, Dibyo said.
After handing weapons to the young boys, he led them to Eli's house and committed the crime.
"We're still working on finding out who killed who," he said.
Dozens of neighbors stoned Philipus' house soon after the media reported that he was a suspect.
A number of Philipus' relatives came to City Police Headquarters yesterday, saying that Philipus has a strange personality and is easily angered. (bsr/01)