Third Defendant Claims Ignorance of Bank Branch Manager Kidnapping
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The third defendant in the alleged kidnapping and murder case of a bank branch manager in Jakarta, initialled MIP (37), Serka FY, claimed he knew nothing about the incident and only spent the time sleeping in the car.
“For the plan to take the victim, we didn’t know, I was just sleeping in the car,” said Serka FY during the defendant examination hearing in the alleged kidnapping and murder case of the bank branch manager MIP (37) at the Military Court II-08 Jakarta, Cakung, East Jakarta, on Tuesday.
In the trial presided over by Military Auditor from the Military Audit II-07 Jakarta, Captain Chk Citra Dewi Manurung, the roles of each defendant were revealed, particularly the testimony of the third defendant, Serka FY.
Before the judge, Serka FY admitted he had no knowledge of the kidnapping plan against the victim.
He said his involvement was limited to fulfilling an invitation from the second defendant, Kopda FH, to accompany a mediation process regarding a leased vehicle in the Lottemart area.
“Permission to state, initially we were told there was a leased car at Lottemart. So, I was just asked to come along because it was said there was a navy member bringing the car and mediation was to be carried out,” explained Serka FY.
However, the plan was said never to have occurred. Serka FY stated that upon arriving at the location, he saw no mediation activity as previously described.
“For the plan to take the victim, we didn’t know. We also didn’t suggest anything because we were sitting separately and talking among ourselves with the people we knew,” said Serka FY.
Furthermore, he admitted to receiving Rp1 million from the second defendant after the incident. According to Serka FY, the money was given as a thank you for accompanying.
“It was said to be money for cigarettes and coffee. Thanks for accompanying to the leasing,” said Serka FY.
In the trial, it was also revealed that during the incident, Serka FY spent most of the time in the car sleeping or playing games using headphones.
He claimed not to know the activities carried out by the other defendants, including when the victim was allegedly in the vehicle.
The auditor highlighted the duration of the defendants’ presence with the victim. The first defendant, Serka MN, admitted they drove around for about five hours after taking the victim.
“While in the car, we slept and played games. We also used headphones, so we didn’t hear the conversations,” revealed Serka FY.
This testimony was further probed by another Military Auditor, Major (Chk) Wasinton Marpaung. He emphasised that no information was given by the second defendant to the third defendant, including at the canteen or afterwards.
Nevertheless, Serka FY admitted he stayed with the second defendant after leaving Lottemart and was then taken for a drive in the car.
Serka FY again claimed that during the journey, he mostly slept and did not pay attention to the surroundings, including any possible movement of the victim.
“We previously drank, so we kept sleeping. The night before we drank (alcoholic beverages). So, when invited the next morning, we were dozing in the car,” said Serka FY.
The defendants in the case, namely Serka MN (first defendant), Kopda FH (second defendant), and Serka FY (third defendant), are charged with involvement in the kidnapping accompanied by the murder of MIP.