Otong's mother corroborates his story in Ita's murder

JAKARTA (JP): The mother of accused murderer Otong gave corroborating testimony at the Central Jakarta District Court on Wednesday to her son's statement on his motivation in killing a teenage neighbor during a bungled burglary.

Dati, alias Enoch, told the court it was true her husband, Sunarji, demanded she obtain Rp 1.5 million (US$170) to cover bus fares for his trip to the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) congress in Bali last October.

"My husband was a committee member for the trip. He threatened to sell our home if I failed to get the money. Otong overheard our quarrel," Dati said.

In the opening hearing last Thursday, Otong, 23, also known as Suryadi or Bram, admitted to planning the robbery of a neighbor's house after hearing his father's threat.

He is charged with killing Marthadinata or Ita, 18, after she stumbled upon the burglary in her family's home on Jl. Berlian in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta.

Dati testified she offered to sell her house for Rp 20 million to Ita's father, Leo Haryono, several days before the murder.

Dati, who once worked as a maid for Ita's family, said Leo agreed to the sale. She said the payment was pending when the murder occurred.

Wednesday's session also was scheduled to hear testimony from Leo and her wife, Wiwin. However, they are currently in the United States.

Otong's cousin Sumarni also testified on Wednesday.

Presiding judge Paiman Martoredjo adjourned the trial until next week when other witnesses will be called.

Otong's defense team, led by lawyer Ruhut Sitompul, focused questioning of Dati on Otong's understanding of his family's need for money to pay for the trip.

"You said your husband is one of the party activists. You know the party has split into two different parties. Do you know what party your husband joined?" asked Ruhut, an activist of the ruling Golkar Party.

She responded she knew her husband was a member of PDI Perjuangan chaired by Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Outside court, Ruhut told reporters that he was not being paid for his defense of Otong, but admitted it was a high-profile case.

"I have been interviewed by The New York Times because of this case," he said proudly.

The murder drew controversy because several non-governmental organizations claimed Ita was a volunteer counselor working with victims of sexual abuse from last May's riots.

Speculation centered on whether Ita was one of the rape victims and that she was set to travel to the United States to talk about her trauma.

The claims have been proven groundless. (jun)