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Mirna reluctant to meet Jessica alone, Hani says
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At the Central Jakarta District Court on Wednesday, Boon Juwita alias Hani (second left) waits for her turn to testify against Jessica Kulama Wongso, who stands accused of murdering Wayan Mirna Salihin on Jan. 6. (The Jakarta Post/Callistasia Anggun Wijaya)
B
oon Juwita alias Hani, testifying against Jessica Kumala Wongso at the Central Jakarta District Court on Wednesday, said the late Wayan Mirna Salihin had called her several times, asking her to accompany Mirna to meet Jessica.
Hani told the judges that Mirna had arrived first at the Grand Indonesia shopping mall, where the Olivier café is located, and had begun to call her, suggesting that Mirna was reluctant to meet Jessica at the café on Jan. 6.
Hani also said that the coffee consumed by Mirna, which allegedly caused her death, had tasted awful, echoing a reported complaint by Mirna before she died on her way from the café to the hospital.
"Seeing that the color of the coffee was strange and that it didn't smell like coffee at all, I was reluctant to drink it. I just took a sip, and it tasted bitter and burning," Hani said.
Hani added that she had shared a table with Jessica and Mirna at the café on the invitation of Jessica, after Mirna and Jessica had agreed to meet through the WhatsApp chat application. Hani and Mirna went to the café at 5:20 p.m., while Jessica had arrived long before the agreed time at 6: 30 p.m.
After greeting Jessica, Mirna and Hani sat at Table No. 54, where Jessica had ordered Vietnamese coffee for Mirna. "Why did you order the coffee for me? You could have ordered it once I arrive. Anyway, thank you,” said Hani, imitating Mirna’s reported remark to Jessica.
Hani stressed that the straw had already been in the coffee cup when Mirna began to drink it.
According to Hani, Mirna exclaimed that the coffee tasted awful soon after drinking from it. Mirna kept repeating that the coffee was bad and became annoyed and angry and eventually suggested that Hani taste the odd coffee, according to Hani.
Not long after that, Mirna was lying on the couch, frothing at the mouth. Hani said she had panicked and immediately called Arief Soemarko, Mirna's husband, to come to the café. Hani testified that she had thought at one point that Mirna was suffering an epileptic attack.
Hani said she complained to Olivier management about the coffee. After Mirna had died, Jessica tried to console the hysterical Hani, saying it was not Jessica and Hani's fault. (bbn)
