Police seek killer of Johar Baru woman

Police seek killer of Johar Baru woman

JAKARTA (JP): City police are looking for a suspect in the killing of a 59-year-old woman at her residence in the Civil Air Services housing complex in Johar Baru, Central Jakarta.

The fugitive, whose identity is being withheld by the police, is believed to have used a knife to slit the throats of Sri Rikayati Sakam and her 21-year-old step daughter, Ila, during the early hours yesterday.

Mrs. Sakam, the wife of a pilot, died a few minutes after the incident, while Ila survived and is in intensive care at the Cipto Mangunkusumo general hospital.

The suspect, in his 40s, is an ex-neighbor of the family.

Officers at the Johar Baru police subprecinct quoted Julikha, Mrs. Sakam's domestic helper, as saying that the suspect came to the house late Monday evening to visit as an old neighbor.

"At that time, only Mrs. Sakam, Ila and I were in the house," Julikha said.

The suspect offered Mrs. Sakam diamond jewelry of his for sale, but her employer said she had lots of jewelry and refused his offer, she said.

"Suddenly the man took out a knife and slit the throat of Mrs. Sakam. When Ila came to her stepmother's assistance, he did the same thing to her," said Julikha.

Julikha then ran outside the house and screamed for help.

Police detectives, who came to the scene after a telephone call from a local resident, found that the suspect had fled the scene and taken diamond jewelry and cash belonging to the deceased.

The police have questioned the suspect's relatives and his wife, Nenny, whom he deserted two years ago. (bsr)