Hendra may have known his killers, police say

Hendra may have known his killers, police say

TANGERANG (JP): Local police said yesterday that they believed
the killers of businessman Hendra Rusmawan and his wife had
properly plotted their actions.

However, this preliminary conclusion has not yet cast light on
a motive for the gruesome murders, Tangerang police chief Lt.
Col. Aryanto Boedihardjo told reporters.

Based on the available evidence, police have two
theories.

They believe the couple may have been killed after discovering
burglars in their house. The burglars murdered the two to prevent
their identification at a later date. Alternatively, the couple
could have been killed for personal reasons or through a
vendetta, Boedihardjo said.

"But it is too early to conclude whether it was an
opportunistic crime or motivated by personal conflict," he said.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the victims were
acquainted with their killers.

"There was no signs of a struggle at the gate or door into the
house and there was no evidence that the perpetrators of the
crime had forced their way to the house," he said.

Hendra, 47, a successful businessman who owned at least eight
firms, and his wife Prastiwi, 42, were found dead last Friday
with their hands bound together in the bedroom of their house in
the Modernland housing estate, Tangerang.

The couple's decomposed bodies were found by Supadi, a driver
for the couple, and some local residents.

The driver and neighbors became concerned after the couple had
not been seen for a number of days. Supadi told the police during
questioning that he and the local residents could smell a putrid
odor coming from the house. After knocking and receiving no
reply, the group decided to break into the house.

Supadi, Arianto, a second driver for the couple, and Farizal,
Cipto and Wiro, all security officers on the estate, have been
questioned by police. Police emphasized that the men were
questioned as witnesses and were not suspects in the case.

Farizal told police that he had allowed the couple's red
Peugeot sedan to pass through the main gate of the estate at
around 2 a.m. Tuesday. He presumed that it was Hendra or his wife
driving the car.

Boediharjo said that the murderers may have stolen a box of
jewelry belonged to Prastiwi, in addition to the couple's car,
which was found abandoned near Merak port last Tuesday.

"But it was still not clear. The couple's son said he had
noticed the box in the house at an earlier date, but said there
was a possibility that his mother might have removed the box from
the house," he said.

Police have obtained fingerprints from the couple's car, which
was recovered in good condition, and have also collected evidence
from the scene of the crime.

Items of evidence amassed by the police include a pair of
sandals, rubber hosing and a crowbar. Police also have a pair of
black socks, white tracksuit trousers and a man's belt which are
believed to belong to the criminals, Boedihardjo said.

Separately, forensic expert Zulhasmar Syamsu yesterday said
that results of the postmortem examinations carried out on both
bodies revealed that both victims had died at least three days
before they were found.

Both victims had suffered severe head and bodily wounds
inflicted by a crowbar and an ice breaker.

Police earlier reported that the female victim had been found
partially naked.

Zulhasmar rejected allegations that she had been raped, but
said that there was evidence that her attackers had interfered
with her sexually before she died.

"I think the attackers may have sexually assaulted the woman
before killing her," he said.

Zulhasmar said the husband had died before his wife.
(41/emf/cst)