Wife accused in burning death

Wife accused in burning death

TANGERANG (JP): Public minivan driver Mohamad Ridwan Harahap,
29, of Benda district here allegedly was burned to death by his
wife and two of her relatives in the early hours of Monday.

Local police detectives are looking for a motive for the
brutal murder, Tangerang Police chief Lt. Col. Pudji Hartanto
said.

According to the police's preliminary investigation, the three
suspects -- the victim's wife, Nurmaida Siregar, 29; her brother,
Hasanudin Siregar, 22; and her sister, Anisa Siregar, 20 -- may
be involved in a black magic cult, Pudji said.

To avoid vigilante justice by local residents, all three of
the suspects have been put in police custody pending further
investigation, the officer said.

"We are cross-checking information from witnesses and
neighbors about the (suspects possible involvement in a cult). We
also have asked doctors from the police hospital to examine the
suspects thoroughly," Pudji said.

"We hope the psychologists can shed light on this case. It's
horrible that a husband was killed by his closest relatives," he
said.

The incident took place at approximately 4:30 a.m., according
to the victim's neighbors, who were alerted to the incident by
the noise.

One of the neighbors, Jajad, said the family had moved into a
rented house in Jurumudi village, Benda district, about a month
ago.

"The poor husband was a public minivan driver. He seemed fine,
but I don't know about the family," Jajad said.

Late last year, Tangerang Police arrested four siblings
between the ages of 12 and 21 for the murders of their mother,
Minah, 45, and sister, Erna, 17, on Nov. 28 at the family's home
in Cipondoh.

None of the suspects could provide a motive for the murders,
saying they were possessed by evil spirits during the incident.

Police, however, doubt the children were possessed when they
committed the murders.

"In the Cipondoh case, when police detectives arrived at the
crime scene the children, who were thought to be possessed by
evil spirits, were normal," Pudji said. (41/edt)