Man sentenced to 14 years for Ita murder
Man sentenced to 14 years for Ita murder
JAKARTA (JP): The Central Jakarta District Court on Wednesday
sentenced 23-year-old Otong to 14 years in prison for murdering
Marthadinata, also known as Ita, 18, in the victim's home in
Kemayoran on Oct. 9 last year.
The verdict, read out by presiding judge Paiman Martoredjo,
was one year less than demanded by the prosecutor.
The sentence brought to an end the case which touched off
controversy when several non-governmental organizations claimed
the murder was related to Ita's plan to travel to the United
States to discuss her rape during the May 1998 riots.
Shortly after the sentence was read, Otong and his lawyers
said they would appeal the decision because they claimed the
incident was simply a burglary.
"I do not accept it. I'm disappointed," Otong said outside the
courtroom.
According to Paiman, Otong was guilty of violating Article 339
of the Criminal Code. The article carries a maximum punishment of
life in prison.
The judge said Otong planned the robbery after hearing his
father tell his mother to raise Rp 1.5 million to pay off the
debt he incurred while traveling to Bali to attend a political
party function.
The murder occurred at Ita's family's home on Jl. Berlian in
Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, where Otong's family also lives.
According to the judge, Otong murdered Ita after the victim
discovered him robbing the two-story house, which was often left
empty.
Carrying a machete and screwdriver, Otong, a technical high
school graduate, entered the house at 1 p.m. on the day of the
murder by climbing a fence.
He entered the bedroom of Ita's sister, Upi, on the first
floor, but did not find any valuables.
He proceeded to the bedroom of Ita's father, Leo Haryono, and
forced open a wardrobe drawer, but again found nothing of value.
As Otong left the room he heard someone shout "thief, robber"
from the second floor, the judge said.
Realizing it was Ita screaming, Otong chased after the young
woman, who locked herself in her bedroom on the second floor.
Otong tore off the netting covering the ventilation opening
above the door and entered the room. He grabbed Ita, who
attempted to resist him by biting his right hand.
Otong then repeatedly slashed Ita across her chest and mouth
with his machete.
He tied Ita's hands with a bra and bound her legs with a
sweater before going downstairs to retrieve a butcher's knife and
a small knife from the kitchen, which he used to slash Ita's
throat.
After making certain that Ita was dead, Otong left the house
the same way he entered. He was arrested the following day. (bsr)