Malaka Man Kills Partner Over Land Certificate Dispute

Malaka Police have arrested Bernabas Bria, a man suspected of killing his partner, Theresia Balok (37), with a machete. The incident occurred in RT 01, Tesa Village, Laenmanen District, Malaka Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), on Sunday (2/8/2026) at around 11.30 a.m. local time. “He was secured shortly after the incident,” said Malaka Police Chief AKBP Riki Ganjar Gumilar on Monday (3/8/2026). Riki explained that the 54-year-old man is now being held at the Malaka Police headquarters. Bernabas is also still undergoing examination by investigators. “The current development is that the investigation is still in process according to applicable regulations,” Riki clarified. Based on a photo obtained, the man from Hoineno Hamlet, Tesa Village, was seen wearing a dirty black shirt and black shorts without footwear. Bernabas’s face looked fierce. Both his hands were handcuffed while holding a machete suspected to have been used to kill Theresia. His hair was also greying. It was previously reported that a quarrel over a land certificate ended in death in Malaka Regency, East Nusa Tenggara. The suspect, Bernabas Bria (54), allegedly hacked his partner, Theresia Balok (37), to death using a machete in RT 01, Tesa Village, Laenmanen District, on Sunday (2/8/2026) at around 11.30 a.m. local time. “The alleged murder was triggered by a prior argument between the suspect and the victim regarding a land certificate,” said Malaka Police Chief AKBP Riki Ganjar Gumilar. Riki explained that before the hacking occurred, Bernabas and Theresia were involved in an argument over the land certificate. The commotion was heard by a witness who then admonished them to stop fighting. After being reprimanded, Theresia went into the house. However, Bernabas continued to scold her. The witness again reprimanded the suspect, but as he was ignored, the witness decided to go home. “So after leaving the victim’s house, the witness still heard the suspect continuing to argue with the victim,” Riki said. Shortly afterwards, Bernabas allegedly took the machete slung over his right shoulder and slashed Theresia’s head, causing her to bleed profusely. “It started from the land certificate issue, so the suspect took a machete and slashed the victim on the head repeatedly until she died,” Riki detailed.