Murder suspects still at large

The police have not arrested any suspects in the case of a female massage parlor worker who died of stab wounds here on Tuesday.

Lily Jamilah, 33, of Tanah Serial district, West Jakarta, was found in critical condition Tuesday, at the side of a road near Soekarno-Hatta international airport. The married woman died at the Tangerang hospital, 26 kilometers south of here, not long after she was taken there by police officers.

Police found her lying unconscious with stab wounds over her entire body. Officers quickly made another chilling discovery: the middle finger of her right hand had been severed.

Although Lily later regained consciousness, she was not strong enough to identify her assailants.

However, the head of Benda police precinct, Captain Sutikno, told newsmen on Tuesday that the police had obtained information concerning the identities of the suspects.

He said that the motive of the murder was not robbery because her jewelry and US$300 in cash were found with her.

The murder might have been an act of personal vengeance, said Sutikno.