Nganjuk Man Found Buried at Home, Adopted Child Arrested

A middle-aged man, identified as GT (52), was found dead and mysteriously buried in the yard of his own home in Nanggungan Hamlet, Kaloran Village, Ngronggot District, Nganjuk Regency, on Wednesday (15/7). The discovery began when residents became suspicious after GT had not been seen in the neighbourhood for several days, since Monday (13/7). Upon searching, village officials and residents found a mound of earth beside the house’s yard. The mound appeared fresh and had never been seen there before. Suspicious residents and village officials reported the finding to the local community policing officer, which was then forwarded to the Ngronggot Police. Together with the Inafis team from the Nganjuk Police Criminal Investigation Unit, officers processed the crime scene. The body of GT was indeed found buried in the mound of earth. The victim was subsequently evacuated to Bhayangkara Hospital Nganjuk for an autopsy. Nganjuk Police Chief AKBP Suria Miftah Irawan stated that after receiving the report, the Criminal Investigation Unit immediately conducted a series of investigations. Based on the crime scene investigation, witness examinations, and inquiries carried out by the Mobile Investigation Unit together with the Intelligence and Security Unit, investigators successfully identified and arrested two suspects. ‘We moved quickly with the investigation and managed to secure two suspects within 10 hours after the victim’s body was found,’ Suria said during a press conference on Thursday (16/7). The two arrested suspects are DM (19), a female who is the victim’s adopted child, and her boyfriend NJ (28), a male resident of Tanjunganom District, Nganjuk. Both were arrested on Jalan Jenderal S Parman, Waru District, Sidoarjo Regency. Nganjuk Deputy Police Chief Kompol Didid Wahyu Agustyawan explained that the case was uncovered through a series of intensive investigations until the suspects’ whereabouts were identified. ‘Currently, investigators are continuing to complete the evidence and delve into the entire sequence of events for the purposes of the legal process,’ Didid said. From the investigation, police seized several pieces of evidence including a hoe, a motorcycle, mobile phones, clothing worn by the suspects, a tarpaulin, the victim’s clothing, and several strands of rope believed to be linked to the crime. Based on the initial examination, investigators suspect the murder was triggered by personal and economic issues. However, the motive is still being further investigated to ascertain all the facts in the case. Both suspects are now detained at the Nganjuk Police Criminal Investigation Unit and charged under Article 459 of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code on premeditated murder, which carries a maximum penalty of death, life imprisonment, or a maximum of 20 years in prison.