Man held for allegedly killing nephew, maid

JAKARTA (JP): A jobless man was caught after allegedly killing his five-year-old nephew and a housemaid in a bungled robbery at his sister's house in Jagakarsa, South Jakarta, on Monday evening.

The suspect, identified only as Frans, was arrested by local residents shortly after the boy's father screamed for help after arriving home.

Police said on Tuesday the preliminary investigation identified Frans as the sole suspect in the murders of Jakaria Satria and housemaid Sutiyah, 17.

They died of multiple stab wounds.

South Jakarta Police detective chief Capt. Rycko Amelza Daniel said Frans confessed to the crime.

He told police officers that he was ashamed and offended when the maid, employed at the house for about two weeks, spotted him taking jewelry from a cupboard.

The jewelry belonged to Frans' elder sister, Astuti.

"When she spotted him, Sutiyah threatened to tell her employee about his wrongdoing," Rycko said.

Frans said he arrived at the house at about 5 p.m. when Astuti and her husband Suyudono were not at home.

Incensed by the servant's threat, Frans pulled out a knife from his pocket and threatened Sutiyah.

When she tried to leave the room, the suspect chased her and fatally stabbed her in the back.

The noise awakened Jakaria, who was sleeping in a nearby bedroom. The boy came out of his bedroom and saw the attack.

"The boy then began crying loudly," Rycko said.

Worried his cries would alert neighbors, Frans panicked and stabbed the child.

"He then dragged the dead bodies into a pavilion, also used as a public clinic, in front of the house," Rycko said.

As he was about to lock the pavilion's door, the suspect was spotted by Suyudono, who was returning from work at City Hall.

Frans tried to leave the house without saying anything to his brother-in-law. But Suyudono was alarmed by bloodstains on Budi's hands and clothes.

"He screamed and shouted for help to prevent Budi from running away," Rycko said.

The bodies were sent to Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital for autopsy.

Sutiyah's cousin Sukarjo said the young woman arrived in Jakarta two weeks ago from Lampung.

Sukarjo said she missed her parents and wanted to send them a letter.

A few hours before Sutiyah was murdered, Sukarjo said he met her buying an envelope and a stamp.

Sutiyah's relatives plan to collect her body for burial in Lampung once the autopsy is completed. (emf/01)