Tue, 22 Feb 2000

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)