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)