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)