Two men suspected of killing Japanese woman

Bali police confirmed Tuesday the identities of two men suspected of murdering 41-year-old Hiromi Shimada and pledged to arrest the suspects within two days.

“We have gained accurate evidence regarding their involvement [in the alleged murder case],” Sr. Com. Alit Widana, chief of Denpasar police precinct, said.
Widana, however, declined to elaborate.

“But we believe the two suspects knew the victim.

“During the investigation, we did not find any clues linking to robbery,” Widana added.

Middle-aged Shimada was found dead in her rented room in the crowded Kuta tourist district in Bali last Saturday night.

Shimada is the second Japanese citizen murdered on the island over the last three months.

Last September, the island was shocked by the rape and murder of a Japanese woman.

The victim of this hideous crime was Rika Sano (30).

The police succeeded in apprehending the suspect, identified as David Wicaksono, who is now awaiting trial.

“The murder was personally motivated,” the police said.

Detectives and specialists from the crime lab searched the victim’s house at Jl. Sadasari 17, Kuta, for five hours for evidence and clues.

They retrieved a knife and a used condom from the premise.

According to the police’s preliminary findings, the victim had regularly visited the resort island for 10 years.  

During her stay on the island, she married twice. Detectives also found copies of bank transfers indicating that the victim regularly received money from her grandmother in Japan. The money transfers ranged from Rp 15 million (US$1,500) to Rp 20 million each.

“It seemed that the victim wasn’t financially independent,” a detective said.

“We have also received information that she led quite a lavish lifestyle.”

The police questioned 20 witnesses, including Shimada’s ex-husband, neighbors and her close friends.

Bali has been a favorite holiday spot for many single Japanese women. The number of Japanese tourists visiting Bali ranked second after Australian tourists. The island receives between 1.8 and 1.9 million foreign tourists annually.

The murders of two Japanese women have reportedly hindered Bali’s image as a safe holiday destination.

Ngurah Wijaya, chairperson of the Bali Tourism Board, urged the police to crack down on the increasing crime involving foreign and domestic tourists in Bali.
“Crime affecting foreign citizens has a huge impact on Bali’s tourist industry. Tourism deals closely with security issues,” Wijaya said.

Foreign visitors to Bali decreased when two terrorist attacks in October 2001 and October 2005 occurred.

“We have just regained the trust of the global tourist business,” Wijaya said. “The police, the government and stakeholders must be responsible in securing the island.”