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uring an operation in Grobogan, Central Java, on Monday night, Jakarta and Central Java Police captured three men suspected of being the murderers of Husni Zarkasih, 58, and Zakih Husni, 53, a couple that had owned a garment factory in Jakarta.

The police shot dead one of the suspected murderers, identified as Ahmad Zulkifli, who had worked as the couple’s driver for 20 years, after he tried to escape arrest.

The suspects were busted while entertaining themselves at a Grobogan hotel, 500 kilometers from the crime scene in Bendungan Hilir, Central Jakarta.

The other suspects, E. Kuswara and Sutarto, 46, were arrested by the police.

Head of the Jakarta Police automotive robbery unit Adj. Sr. Comr. Antonius Agus said Wednesday that the two suspects were former employees of the garment factory owned by the couple.

“The factory was closed before Idul Fitri, and because of that the suspects asked Husni, as their employer, for severance pay,” Agus said.

Their request was rejected. Agus explained that the suspects, who had worked in the factory for dozens of years, allegedly concocted a plan to rob their former employer at Ahmad’s house in Kreo, Ciledug, South Jakarta.

He claimed that the suspects executed their plan on Sept. 10 by visiting the couple’s house. The suspects brought iron bars with them be used as weapons and stopped by a mini mart to buy rope and duct tape.

“Zakiah was brutally attacked by the suspects the moment she opened the door after Ahmad rang the doorbell. They threw her on the floor and warped her body in a bedcover,” he said.

He added that the suspects then waited for Husni, who arrived 30 minutes later. He alleged the suspects attacked Husni in his garage before taking several of the couple’s possessions.

He explained that they escaped in Husni’s car and brought the bodies with them. The suspects then threw the bodies into the Klawing River in Purbalingga, Central Java. The bodies were later discovered by locals on Monday.

The suspects face multiple charges, including under Article 338 of the Criminal Code (KUHP) on murder and Article 340 on homicide with a minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment and a maximum sentence of death.

Separately, Tanah Abang Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Lukman Cahyono, who handled the initial investigation, said that Ahmad Zulkifli, the former driver, was believed to be the primary suspect.

In addition to the killings, Jakarta Police general crime director Sr. Comr. Nico Afinta said Wednesday the suspects were also believed to have stolen a safety deposit box containing 15 watches, gold, several laptops and bank account books.

“We have seized Rp 120 million [US$9,084] from the suspects, which they obtained by selling the gold,” Nico said. (rdi)