Locals get long sentences for killing Japanese couple

The Tangerang District Court sentenced Cecep Abdullah and Irwan Iriawan to 17 and 16 years respectively on Monday for murdering a Japanese couple.

The two defendants were convicted of killing Yasuo Hara, 69, and his wife Mizue Hara, 67, last year in Ciputat, South Tangerang.

Presiding judge Riyadi said Cecep, a former domestic helper at the victims’ residence and his friend Irwan Iriawan were found guilty of premeditated murder.

Reading the verdict, Riyadi said that although the defendants only planned to steal valuables from the Hara family, they were armed with knives and came prepared with gloves before breaking into the house on June 17 last year.

“This means that the defendants had intentions and plans to commit the murders,” Riyadi said.

Responding to the verdict, Cecep and Irwan said that they accepted the jail terms and expressed regret for the crime.

Iwan’s defense team, however, said they would appeal the verdict.

“We will file an appeal for Iwan because he only assisted Cecep in the crime,” defense team member Wahyu Baskoro said.

Prosecutors in the case had sought 18 years for Cecep and 17 years for Iwan.

The prosecutors charged the defendants with violating Article 340 of the Criminal Code on premeditated murder and Article 380 on committing violence resulting in the death of others.

Yasuo and Mizue Hara were murdered at their residence in Jombang, Ciputat district, South Tangerang.

Cecep said that he felt that he was treated unfairly by the family after being dismissed one month after he was hired.

Cecep and Irwan climbed a fence and entered the Japanese couple’s house around 7:30 p.m. through a garage door where they were confronted by Hadi Kuswoyo, a domestic worker who had worked for the couple for two years.

The three started arguing in the kitchen and upon hearing the dispute, Yasuo left the dining room where he was having dinner with his wife.

Yasuo ran into the kitchen and confronted Cecep. Seeing that Cecep had a knife, Yasuo punched him in the face. Seeing his friend attacked, Iwan approached Yasuo and stabbed him multiple times in
the back.

Hadi then ran to seek help while Mizue, who witnessed the fight, ran into the bedroom where she was then stabbed in the neck.

Mizue Hara chaired the Goodwill International Foundation scholarship program for 10 years prior to her death while her husband was a retiree of the Jakarta Japanese International School.

Chisato Hara, one of the victims’ three children, refused to comment on the verdict.

“We have yet to discuss as a family what to say about the punish-ment for the killers,” she told The Jakarta Post.