Two servants brutally slain in Tebet

Two servants brutally slain in Tebet

JAKARTA (JP): Two servants were brutally slain in a robbery
attempt at their employer's house on Jl. Tebet Barat in South
Jakarta yesterday afternoon.

The body of housemaid Supiah, 30, was found floating in the
bathtub with two stab wounds in the back. The other maid,
Maisaroh, 17, was discovered in the kitchen with her neck almost
severed.

Following a report from neighbors, the police apprehended a
suspect, Budiarto, at the scene of the crime.

Col. Adang Rismanto, head of the Jakarta police detectives who
led the investigation, said that Budiarto admitted to killing the
two maids during questioning.

Police sources said that Budiarto is a private sector employee
and a close friend of a relative of the owner of the house where
the maids worked.

During police questioning, the suspect said he planned to rob
the house of Heru Ramlah, a private firm employee because he
needed Rp 500,000 (US$216) to pay rent on a house in East
Jakarta.

The preliminary police investigation showed that Budiarto
entered the two-story house at around 9 a.m., when only the two
housemaids, who knew him, were at home.

"In an apparent attempt to remove any suspicion of why he
might be there, the suspect asked Maisaroh to buy food for him,"
Adang said.

Shortly after Maisaroh left, Budiarto allegedly choked the
unsuspecting Supiah and tried to drown her in the bathtub, the
officer said.

"He then took a knife from the kitchen and stabbed the maid
twice in the back," Adang said.

Shortly after, Maisaroh returned, telling him that the food he
had requested was not available. Budiarto then asked the
housemaid to buy a pack of cigarettes for him.

Upon her return, the suspect asked her to make a cup of tea
before approaching her from behind and cutting her throat, Adang
said.

Just as Budiarto was about to go upstairs to search for
valuables, the homeowner's two children, aged 10 and 12 years
old, returned from school along with their driver.

"When the children found that the gate was locked and noticed
bloodstains near the front door, they immediately reported their
discovery to neighbors," a neighbor said.

They then contacted their brother, Agung, who arrived with his
driver, Erwin.

"Budiarto told the two men that a group of robbers had just
left the house by car," Adang said.

Shortly afterward Soon after receiving the report three units
of police detectives arrived and headed by Adang, arrived and
began questioning people.

The police also sent dogs and forensic experts to the scene.

"Budiarto finally admitted responsibility after a series of
questioning sessions at the Tebet police precinct," Adang said.

At the scene of the crime, police found Budiarto's
fingerprints and seized the kitchen knife used to stab the
victims and the suspect's shirt and trousers which were stained
with blood. (bsr)