Police in Bali have announced the capture of two men suspected for the murder of Ni Gusti Mirah Lestari, 42, a bank employee whose body was found in a ditch on the side of the road last week.
Bali Police Crime Investigation Unit Head M Reza Pranata confirmed on Sunday that they managed to track down and arrest the alleged culprits. More details were disclosed at a press conference that took place today.
Police identified the suspects as 28-year-old NR and 31-year-old NSP, who stole the victim’s car to flee the crime scene and Bali altogether. The car was then sold to a buyer in Boyolali regency, Central Java.
The suspects continued their run west, until they were finally caught in Lampung province on Sumatra island.
Police explained that the two suspects plotted Mirah’s murder on Aug. 21. NR and NSP schemed to have Mirah take them out around Jimbaran, and they were picked up in Sukawati, Gianyar.
The group then left Jimbaran with NSP driving, Mirah in the passenger seat, and NR in the backseat. NR then took out a bag strap and used it to choke the victim to death while NSP continued driving.
Mirah’s cell phone was tossed out of the car near Selemadeg village in Tabanan, and eventually the two suspects dragged the victim’s body to the sewers before fleeing the island.
It was revealed that NSP and the victim had dated for a month, but police said there were no issues in the relationship that could have motivated the murder. Instead, police said the suspects merely wanted to steal Mirah’s car.
NSP and NR both face the death penalty for premeditated murder.
The victim’s body was cremated in Kerobokan village, Badung, yesterday afternoon.
