Mutilated body found in bags

BANJARMASIN, South Kalimantan: The residents of Banjarmasin were shocked upon finding two bags, which turned out later to contain human body parts, on two rivers on Saturday and Tuesday.

The first bag was found on Saturday on the Martapura river, which crosses the city of Banjarmasin, and the second bag, slightly smaller than the first, was found on a smaller river, around one kilometer away.

Police confirmed on Tuesday that the mutilated body in the two bags was that of a 37-year-old woman identified as Masratu, a trader living in the western part of the city.

Banjarmasin Police chief Sr. Comr. Suhardjito told reporters at Masratu's residence that police had arrested a suspect identified as Bambang Ponco Soekarno, a father of four children.

Saying that it was the most sadistic murder that had ever occurred in the province, Suhardjito said that Bambang admitted to having killed Masratu over his family's Rp 20 million debt to her.

Bambang's wife had just left him for personal reasons when Masratu came to ask him to return the money. "He was enraged and attacked the woman," Suhardjito said.

Residents became angry upon hearing that Bambang was the murderer. They ransacked Bambang's house on Tuesday. (32/sur)