Killer of JICT Retiree Ermanto Usman is Serial Thief Operating in Bekasi

JAKARTA — Sudirman, 28, the killer of PT Jakarta International Container Terminal (JICT) retiree Ermanto Usman, is a serial thief with a long history of theft operations in the Bekasi area of West Java.

The Director of Criminal Investigation at Jakarta Metro Police, Brigadier General Iman Imanudin, stated that Sudirman’s previous thefts were known to residents in the vicinity. However, the suspect consistently managed to flee with stolen goods.

“This suspect has committed similar theft crimes comparable to the circumstances at the final crime scene, in several locations,” Iman told journalists at Jakarta Metro Police headquarters on Wednesday, 11 March 2026.

Iman explained that the crowbar Sudirman used to kill Ermanto was obtained from a flower shop in the Kalimalang area days before the incident.

“He took a crowbar, scissors, and a knife. This was two or three days before the incident, and he also committed a theft but was caught by the homeowner, though the suspect managed to escape,” Iman clarified.

Sudirman carried out thefts to meet his daily living expenses by selling the stolen goods. One mobile phone and jewellery taken from Ermanto’s house were even sold before the suspect was apprehended by police.

On the day of the incident, Sudirman selected Ermanto’s house because it was the largest residence compared to others in the vicinity. From the property, he stole two mobile phones, jewellery, a laptop, and a bag containing car keys.

The attack that resulted in Ermanto’s death and injuries to his wife was described as spontaneous, occurring because the suspect was startled and panicked when his actions were discovered.

“The suspect was shocked. So he spontaneously struck the crowbar, which he had previously used to prise open the window,” Iman explained.

Ermanto and his wife, Pasmilawati, 60, were allegedly victims of armed robbery with assault resulting in death on Monday, 2 March 2026. When discovered, Ermanto was on his bed covered in blood, whilst Pasmilawati lay on the bedroom floor.

Ermanto died at the scene, whilst his wife remained in critical condition and underwent intensive care at the hospital. Initial medical examination showed both had suffered injuries from blunt force trauma to the back of the head.