Victim was still alive when dumped into water: Witness

An expert confirmed during the trial of I Nyoman Susrama, who allegedly murdered a Radar Bali editor, that the victim was still alive when he was dumped into water off Klungkung bay in February.

Dr. IB Putu Alit, a forensic expert at Sanglah General Hospital, testified at Denpasar District Court that A.A. Prabangsa, the murdered journalist, was still breathing before his body was plunged into the water. Susrama and eight other suspects are accused of taking Prabangsa to the bay and dumping his body into the water.

During the victim's autopsy, the doctor found sand in his throat and lungs. Prabangsa's body is thought to have floated in the bay for three to four days before being found by a ship's captain near Bungsil Bay in Klungkung regency, some 40 kilometers northwest of Denpasar.

The panel of judges, presided over by Djumain, insisted that the doctor outline what weapons were used to kill the victim.

"The victim suffered from head trauma after being hit. But I could not confirm whether he was hit with a piece of wood or another blunt instrument," the doctor explained.

Separately, witness Dewa Sumbawa, who is also one of the nine suspects, told the court he had withdrawn the statement he made to police regarding his role in the case.

But the judges refused to accept his in-court statement and accused him of lying.

Sumbawa worked as Susrama's driver. Sumbawa told the court that on the day of the murder he was not at the scene as he had been running errands for Susrama at Bangli's General Election Commission, Bali Police Office and the office of General Elections Monitoring Agency.

Susrama was a candidate contesting a seat on the Bali Legislative Council.

The murdered journalist, Prabangsa, wrote a number of articles on irregularities in various local government projects involving Susrama as a project manager.

He was allegedly killed to silence him. At least nine people have been charged with involvement in the murder case.