No clues in Christmas double murder

JAKARTA (JP): East Jakarta Police detectives are no closer to solving last week's double murder of a mother and daughter despite questioning at least 13 people.

The precinct chief, Lt. Col. Syahrir Kuba, said yesterday a lack of information about the family from Cipinang Indah in Duren Sawit had hampered the police investigation.

"They just moved to the housing complex a year ago and most of their family members live in Singapore," he said, adding that the victims kept to themselves.

Widow Maria Kristianto, a 43-year-old businesswoman, and her 22-year-old daughter Maria Amelia Monika, were found dead at their residence on Dec. 29.

Forensic doctors at Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital believe the two were killed on Christmas Day.

Syahrir said police believe that more than one person was involved in the killings. There were no signs of robbery or sexual abuse, he said.

"Our preliminary analysis reveals that the suspects must have been familiar with or known the victims very well and their motive must be personal."

Syahrir said the mother was found in the bathroom with wounds to her stomach and feet, while her daughter was found face down on the dressing table in her room. She had suffered stab wounds to her arms, neck and chest.

"We've confiscated three knives with blood stains on them. In the meantime, we're still waiting for the final results of the forensic examination of several fingerprints found on the weapons."

Security guards from the housing complex and neighbors discovered the bodies after noticing a strong odor coming from the house.

A day earlier, a friend of Monika's, identified as Sungkono, asked one of the security guards to check the house for an unknown reason but headed in the opposite direction, Syahrir said.

"When the guard found that the house was unlocked he just went away."

The officer said Sungkono and a Malaysian man believed to be Monika's boyfriend, were among the 13 people questioned.

The victim's boyfriend, Michael, resided in Singapore where Monika studied at a university, he said.

He came to Jakarta on holidays and arrived on New Year's Eve to pick up Monika but he was told that she had died.

Syahrir said police had not named anyone as a suspect.

"There's still a long way to go as we haven't summoned some people, including Kristianto's two ex-husbands."

The mother and daughter were buried in Pondok Ranggon Public Cemetery in East Jakarta last Friday. (04)