Murder of Japanese couple not intentional: Suspects

The two suspects in the murder of a Japanese couple in Tangerang last week have admitted that they never intended to kill their former employers as they had only planned a robbery.

“We had no intention of killing them as we only intended to get their money and leave, but they fought back.” Abdullah Cecep, or Asep, one of the suspects, said at the South Jakarta Police headquarters.

Asep admitted he had been the one who had set up the robbery since he felt disappointed with the couple after they fired him just one month after he started working for them as a gardener.    

Iwan, another suspect, expressed similar regret.

“[Asep] promised me a motorcycle if we manage to do [the robbery],” he said.

Neighbors found Japanese expatriate Yasuo Hara and his wife Mizue Hara stabbed to death after apprehending Asep, who had tried to run away from the crime scene, on Thursday night.
 
Iwan managed to escape, but the South Jakarta Police arrested him in Cianjur, West Java on Sunday.