The East Jambi Police have arrested three further suspects implicated in the murder of a businessman, Ambo Alang, 38, which took place in March 2010, in addition to Jamaludin, alias Jamak, whom police had arrested a week ago.
The three suspects comprise Ambo’s wife Indo Ase, 30, her father H.M. Siri, 59, and her younger brother Amril, alias Adeng, 18.
Meanwhile, police are still hunting another three suspects who are still at large; namely, Indo Ase’s older brother Jamal Tua, her younger brother Jamal Muda, her mother Siti Mariam and
Juat, a distant relative of Indo Ase’s immediate family.
East Jambi Police chief Comr. Evandri said police would be issuing different charges for all the suspects, with premeditated murder being the most severe charge, which would carry the death penalty.
Evandri said that based on their investigations into Jamak, the prime suspect who was arrested in Jakarta in the early hours of last Saturday, and Amril, it was H.M. Siri, Siti Mariam and Indo Ase who planned the murder.
“However, both H.M. Siri and Indo Ase continue to deny Jamak and Amril's claims,” said Evandri.
“Everything will become clearer [as to who did what] after we arrest the four other suspects [who are on the lam].”
Indo Ase has denied her role in the murder.
According to Evandri, Jamak and Amril previously said both of them, along with Indo Ase, Jamal Tua, Jamal Muda, H.M. Siri, Siti Mariam and Juat, had a meeting at H.M. Siri’s house in Talang Banjar.
After the meeting, H.M. Siri produced a dagger to be sharpened and smeared with a special oil that would be able to break Ambo’s skill in protecting himself from sharp objects, Evandri said.
“H.M. Sari chose that particular dagger because the family knew the victim was immune to regular metal,” Evandri said.
Evandri said the police had yet to establish the motive behind the murder, “but the suspects have said it was a revenge killing”.
The police were also trying to trace the victim’s money, Evandri said.
“It is possible that the motive for the murder was that the victim’s wife and her family wanted to take control of all his assets. [They] sold the victim’s stall, and then used the money [from the sale] to buy a Ninja motorcycle, among other things,” Evandri said. (mtq)
