Police Deny Murder of JICT Retiree Ermanto Connected to Corruption Case

Police have stated that the case of retiree Jakarta International Container Terminal (JICT) employee Ermanto Usman, 65, is purely an act of theft and murder.

Metro Jaya Police’s Criminal Investigation Unit Director Kombes Iman Imanuddin stressed that the case has no connection to rumours circulating on social media regarding corruption allegations exposed by Ermanto.

“As to whether there is any connection with what is circulating actively on social media about exposing alleged abuses in the workplace before the victim died—based on the facts we have obtained, we have found nothing in that direction,” Iman told journalists on Wednesday (11 March).

“Rather, it is purely a theft offence and murder offence that accompanied or was perpetrated alongside the theft committed by the suspect,” he added.

Iman explained that in his actions, suspect Sudirman alias Yuda targeted his victim at random. On that occasion, Sudirman selected Ermanto’s house because it appeared to be the largest in the neighbourhood.

“The perpetrator saw that the house was the largest. As a result, the perpetrator assumed he could obtain quite a lot of items or goods that the perpetrator was looking for,” he said.

According to Iman, the suspect had frequently conducted theft operations at several locations. The suspect had even been caught in the act on one occasion but managed to escape.

Based on investigation findings, Iman said, authorities had confirmed that Sudirman’s actions were purely motivated by economic factors.

“From the investigation process we conducted, whether it was digital analysis or examination of all witnesses from whom we took statements during the investigation and prosecution phases, we have found no other motive from this incident besides theft or murder perpetrated as part of the theft series by the suspect,” Iman said.

Previously, Ermanto Usman died at his residence in Jatibening, Pondok Gede, Bekasi, West Java on Monday (2 March). In the incident, Ermanto’s wife also suffered injuries and remained under medical care at a hospital.

The incident was only discovered by their son near dawn. At that time, the son felt suspicious because his parents had not woken him for pre-dawn meal (sahur) until 4.00 a.m.

“When he woke up he was shocked, ‘this is almost time for imsak [end of pre-dawn meal]’, so he went downstairs. When he went down he saw there was no response from his parents and the lights were still off,” said Bekasi Metro Police Criminal Unit Head Kompol Andi Muhammad Iqbal to journalists on Monday (2 March).

Andi said the victim’s son could still hear his mother’s voice at that time. However, when he approached, the door handle was already broken and could not be opened.

After investigation, police arrested the murder suspect named Sudirman alias Yuda in Cilincing, North Jakarta on Monday (9 March) at around 18.54 p.m.

Ermanto was known to be the Chairman of the JICT Employee Retirees Association. Pelindo is the principal shareholder in JICT. He was also known as a port observer.

In recent times, he was known as one of the figures exposing alleged corruption related to port management. He had brought the allegations of corruption at the port company to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).