Woman killed in Bali robbery

DENPASAR, Bali: A gang of robbers killed a female employee of a private company PT Perwira Bhakti Sentra Sejahtera after snatching a small petty cash box from the office late on Wednesday, police said.

The body of 24-year-old Santi, a native of Malang, East Java, was found by co-workers on Thursday morning.

"Her head and face were severely cut by sharp weapons. So far there are no signs of sexual abuse," Denpasar City Police chief Senior Insp. Awang Joko Rumitro said.

"Santi's boyfriend, Arief, reported the incident to us after the robbers dumped him in a remote cemetery in Gianyar, 27 kilometers east of Denpasar about 1.5 hours after the incident," Awang said, adding that Arief said the robbers covered their faces with masks.

According to the company's manager in Denpasar, Ida Bagus Partha, the cash box contained several millions of rupiah in cash and cheques.

A police detective said none of Santi's valuables, such as her gold bracelet, were missing. "This is strange. We will probe this case thoroughly," a detective on the scene said. (zen)