Mother-in-law murder suspect arrested

TANGERANG (JP): Police here have apprehended a 40-year-old man suspected of brutally killing his former mother-in-law.

Balaraja Police chief Capt. Santoso said his men had no difficulty in arresting Jumanta, alias Agum, who was about to board an intercity bus to Serang at the Balaraja-Serang crossroads in Kali Pasir village, Balaraja, on Saturday.

"The (alleged) sadistic killer did not resist arrest at all," the officer said on Sunday.

Jumanta, who became wanted by the police following the Thursday morning murder of Awiah, 70, was located by the Balaraja detectives based on a tip-off from local residents, Santoso said.

The suspect apparently confessed to killing the mother of his ex-wife, who divorced him four days before the murder.

"I was really upset to have a mother-in-law like her who always interfered in our household affairs, which in turn broke up my family," Jumanta told the investigators.

Police also seized a klewang (a traditional curved blade), said to have been used to slash the shoulder of the elderly woman in the early morning of Thursday.

"The sharp weapon was thrown out by the suspect into a ditch about three meters away from the scene of crime," officer Santoso said.

Awiah was found dead and covered in blood by Jumanta's ex-wife and neighbors at the back of her house in Selon hamlet, Kaliasin village, Balaraja.

The neighbors rushed to the house after hearing the scream of Awiah's daughter, Acih, 35, the former wife of the suspect.

Awiah was about to bathe for subuh (predawn prayer) and was approaching the bathroom when she was suddenly attacked.

Acih, who had just left the bathroom, was stunned at coming upon the incident and coming face-to-face with her ex-husband.

Shocked at the unexpected presence of Acih, Jumanta then attacked the woman. At one point, Acih got a grip of his hands and shouted for help.

The culprit managed to flee before residents arrived.

According to Acih, the suspect had been threatening her since their divorce a week ago and had asked her to return her wedding ring. (41/bsr)