Maid murder reconstructed

TANGERANG (JP): Police set up Monday the reconstruction of the murder of a 23-year-old maid, who was allegedly killed by her employers in Curug, some 35 kilometers west of here.

Ropingah was allegedly tortured to death by Mangantur Sinaga, 39, and his wife, Fransiska Viona, 28, on July 29.

In the reconstruction, the maid, played by a resident, Turasih, 20, was kicked and beaten by Mangantur until she fainted. He roused the maid with water and beat her again.

The couple believed that Ropingah stole many of their belongings from their house in the Binong Permai housing complex.

In the reconstruction, Mangantur appeared to not know the sequence of actions.

"You asked your maid to raise one of her legs," deputy chief detective of the Tangerang Police precinct, First Lt. Indarji said.

"No, I did not," Mangantur said.

Crowding residents around the reconstruction shouted that this was a lie.

Indarji said Fransiska will be charged for not preventing her husband from torturing Ropingah.

An earlier released autopsy report revealed that Ropingah had not eaten for a long time. (28/jun)