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Pulo Mas defendants claim guilt for robbery, innocence for murder
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A crime-scene tape cordons off the Pulo Mas house where six people died during the course of a robbery, in this Dec. 27, 2016 file photo. (Kompas.com/Akhdi Martin Pratama)
D
efendants of the Pulo Mas robbery-murder case has told the East Jakarta District Court that they never intended to murder their victims, who died of asphyxiation after they were forced into a tiny bathroom during the course of the crime last year.
The robbery-murder committed in December 2016 in the upscale residential area of Pulo Mas, East Jakarta, was called a "horrific" crime in the mass media, as six of the 11 victims died of asphyxiation after the robbers locked them inside a 1.5-by-1.5 meter bathroom.
The public prosecutor demanded death sentences for defendants Ridwan Sitorus and Erwin Situmorang, and a life sentence for Alfins Bernius Sinaga. The “captain” of the criminals, Ramlan Butar Butar, was shot dead on Dec. 28, 2016 by the police in Bekasi, West Java.
In their defense statement, Erwin, Ridwan and Alfins all maintained their innocence against the premeditated murder charge.
"Please forgive me, I never imagined it would turn out this way. I fell into this. We planned a robbery, not murder," said Ridwan.
The victims who died in the incident were the homeowner, Dodi Triono, 59, his eldest daughter Diona Andika Andra Putri, 16, youngest daughter Dianita Gemma Dzalfayla, 9, Dianita’s friend Amalia Calista, 9, and Dodi’s drivers Yanto and Tasrok.
The surviving victims of the crime are Dodi’s second daughter Zanette Kalila, 13, and his domestic helpers Emi, Santi, Fitriani and Windy. (dis)
