Women, children mutilated

JAKARTA (JP): A woman and her three children were found dead yesterday at their home in Ciracas, East Jakarta, in what police described as one of the most sadistic crimes ever committed here.

An eight-month-old baby, who was found hanging, survived and was taken to a hospital.

The four victims -- Eli Kusnaeni, 31, Gilang, 8, Citra, 4, Rizky, 2 -- were all found badly mutilated.

They were first discovered by her eldest daughter, 10-year-old Mieke, as she returned from school after midday. Her shrieking screams drew her neighbors, who quickly alerted the police.

The neighbors first thought that eight-month-old Erika was dead. When they discovered she was still breathing, they quickly took her to the hospital. She was discharged a few hours later and put in the care of relatives.

Eli's husband, Rohadi, a junior high school teacher, was not in the house at the time.

Jakarta Police Chief Maj. Gen. Dibyo Widodo, who came to the house, described the killing as more "sadistic" than the clubbing to death of the six members of the Herbin Hutagalung family in Bekasi last year that shook the nation.

"We will unveil this case as soon as possible," he promised.

Police were puzzled by the motive but ruled out robbery because valuable belongings inside the house remained intact.

The bodies of the four victims were taken to the Cipto Mangunkusumo general hospital for autopsies.

According to Namin, a neighbor, the Rohadis had only moved to the area 10 months ago. (01)