Mutilation case draws speculation

JAKARTA (JP): The gruesome discovery on Monday of dismembered human body parts at two separate spots in western part of Jakarta has attracted speculation on the part of police officers and criminologists.

Judging from the state of the body, many senior police speculated that the murder was committed by an individual or individuals close to the victim. They said the motive was most likely the discovery of an illicit love affair or some other form of jealousy.

But criminologist Adrianus Meliala said the cruel killing might have been committed by members of a well-organized crime group as a "warning" to their rival groups, or even to law enforcers.

Other observers said the killing may have been related to a drugs syndicate.

Monday's find was of a dismembered male head, torso, legs and arms. Police and hospital sources said some parts of the victim's body were missing, including genital parts.

Jakarta Police senior detective Lt. Col. Abdullah said the killing displayed similarities with a 1991 murder, in which an Italian, Paolo Choggi, was killed by "his closest friend".

Paolo was found dead in his Kelapa Gading house with his genitals mutilated.

Abdullah said the 1991 police investigations revealed that the killer became jealous after Paolo became intimate with other people.

But Adrianus said the dismembering of body parts without erasing important identification traits, such as facial characteristics and fingerprints, was often meant a warning signal.

"It seems to me that the killer wants the face to be recognized by people he or she is attempting to warn."

His theory was supported by forensic expert Budi Sampurna.

"(The murder is) strange, as murderers always try to cover his crime unless they have a message which they want to convey," said Budi, who heads Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital's forensic department.

Adrianus said 35 killings involving the dismembering of body parts had occurred in the country since 1976.

The mutilated was claimed on Wednesday by two women as their younger brother, Sumarsana.

Bambang Gularso, 37, a close friend of Sumarsana, said he had dinner with Sumarsana and other friends on Friday night in front of Pasar Baru market in Central Jakarta.

He said Sumarsana often spent his time sitting on a bridge in front of the market watching passers-by.(emf/04/03)