Jessica Kumala denied any involvement in the death of her friend Wayan Mirna Salihin, 27, who died after drinking cyanide-laced coffee in a Jakarta restaurant earlier this month and was calling for a better laboratory investigation, her lawyer said on Tuesday.

Jakarta Police questioned Jessica on Tuesday as part of the investigation into Mirna's death as she was the one who ordered the drinks for Mirna and another friend, Hani, in a restaurant in the upscale Grand Indonesia Mall in Central Jakarta on Jan. 6.

Jessica's lawyer Yudi Wibowo said his client, who is also his niece, was stressed by the media coverage that had focused on her.

"But she is not afraid. She is tough because she has done nothing wrong in relation to the case," he said.

Police had questioned Jessica and searched her house to search for evidence relating to the case last week.

Tuesday's questioning also involved a forensic psychiatric evaluation of Jessica.

Yudi believed that Mirna did not die from cyanide poisoning even though police have confirmed they found cyanide in Mirna's stomach contents and in the sample of the coffee she had drunk. He questioned Mirna's autopsy process and urged that an autopsy be conducted in another reputable hospital.

Police investigators conducted an autopsy on Mirna's body in Kramat Jati Police Hospital on Jan. 10.

Yudi claimed that Hani had also taken a sip of Mirna's coffee and was unharmed.

"That means Mirna did not die because of the coffee. Two people drank the same coffee but Hani is alive and well," he said, adding that he did not know why Jessica did not also try the coffee.

The newly wed Mirna suffered convulsions after drinking the coffee. She died a few hours later in Abdi Waluyo Hospital in Central Jakarta.

Best friends

Yudi explained that Mirna and Jessica were best friends. They both went to Billy Blue College of Design and then continued their studies in Swinburne University of Technology, both in Australia.

Jessica worked as a graphic designer in Australia and she came back to Indonesia in December to find a job.

As college mates, Jessica then invited Mirna and Hani to meet up in the restaurant.

She arrived at the cafe an hour earlier and ordered the drinks for her friends as her treat.

"If Jessica waited to order until Mirna came, Mirna would have paid for the coffee. It had happened a couple of times," Yudi said.

Yudi denied rumors that the case was related to a love rivalry between Jessica and Mirna.

"There is nothing like that. Jessica has a boyfriend overseas," he said.

The police have not yet named a suspect in the case claiming that they are still waiting for the final results from the National Police's forensic laboratory.

"Jessica is not a potential suspect yet," Police general crimes directorate head Sr. Comr. Khrisna Murti said on Tuesday. (rin)

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