Motive Behind Murder of JICT Retiree Ermanto Usman

Police have revealed the motive behind the murder of Ermanto Usman (65), a retired employee of Jakarta International Container Terminal (JICT). Ermanto Usman is claimed to have been killed after he discovered a burglary being committed by Sudirman alias Yuda (28).

In a statement to investigators, Sudirman admitted he was startled when he saw Ermanto’s wife wake up and discovered him committing theft. As a result, Sudirman struck the victim using a crowbar that he had used to prise open a window.

“The suspect was in the process of committing theft at the victim’s house when the victim awoke upon hearing an alarm set for sahur (pre-dawn meal). Then, when the female victim turned on the lights, she encountered the suspect,” said Director of Metro Jaya Police Criminal Investigation Unit Kompbes Iman Imanuddin at a press conference on Wednesday (11 March).

“The suspect spontaneously struck the female victim with the crowbar that had previously been used to prise open the window,” he added.

At the same time, Sudirman saw Ermanto, who was sitting in his bedroom. This was because Ermanto’s bedroom door was open at the time.

“Upon striking the female victim, because the bedroom door was open, the suspect saw the male victim sitting inside. Panicked, the suspect then immediately attacked the male victim who had just awakened and was sitting on his bed,” he explained.

Based on investigation findings, Iman stated that Sudirman’s actions were purely motivated by economic need.

“We have found no other motive from this incident other than theft or murder committed as part of the burglary carried out by the suspect,” he said.

In this case, the suspect was charged under Article 458 paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code, Article 458 paragraph 3 of the Criminal Code, and Article 479 paragraph 3 of the Criminal Code, facing a penalty of up to 20 years imprisonment.

“At present, the suspect is in detention at Metro Jaya Police detention facilities,” Iman said.

Denies connection to corruption investigation

Police further claimed that this case has no connection to issues circulating on social media regarding corruption allegations exposed by Ermanto.

“Whether there is any connection to what is currently being widely discussed on social media about alleged irregularities at one workplace before the victim’s death – based on the facts obtained, we have found nothing pointing in that direction,” Iman said.

“Rather, this is purely a theft offence and murder offence that accompanied or was linked to the burglary committed by the suspect,” he added.

Iman explained that in his actions, Sudirman alias Yuda selected his target randomly. At that time, Sudirman chose Ermanto’s house because it appeared to be the largest in the neighbourhood.

“At that time, the perpetrator observed that this house was the largest in the area. Therefore, the perpetrator believed he could obtain a sufficient amount of goods or items he was seeking,” he said.

Iman disclosed that the suspect had frequently committed burglaries at various locations. In fact, the suspect had even been caught in the act before but managed to escape.

Earlier, Ermanto Usman died at his home in Jatibening, Pondok Gede, Bekasi, West Java on Monday (2 March). In the incident, Ermanto’s wife also suffered injuries and was still receiving medical treatment at a hospital.

The incident only became known to their son around the time of sahur. At that time, the victim’s son grew suspicious because his parents had not woken him for sahur until 04.00 WIB.

“When he woke up, he was shocked, thinking ‘it’s almost imsak (end of pre-dawn meal period)’, so he went downstairs. When he went down, he noticed there was no response from his parents, and the lights were still off,” said Bekasi Metro Police Criminal Investigation Unit Chief Kompol Andi Muhammad Iqbal to journalists on Monday (2 March).

Andi stated that the victim’s son still managed to hear the sound of his mother at that moment. However, when he approached, the door handle was already damaged and could not be opened. Following investigation, police successfully apprehended the murder suspect named Sudirman alias Yuda in Cilincing, North Jakarta on Monday (9 March) at approximately 18:54 WIB.

Ermanto was known to be the Chairman of the JICT Employee Retirees Association. Pelindo is the major shareholder of JICT. He was also known as a port observer.

In recent times, he was known as one of the figures who exposed alleged corruption related to port management. The alleged corruption at the port company was brought to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).