Mutilation case draws speculation

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)