Mastermind behind shooting of businessman in Kelapa Gading was harassed for years, police say

Sketches of the alleged gunmen who shot a businessman to death in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta on Aug. 13. Photo: Istimewa
Sketches of the alleged gunmen who shot a businessman to death in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta on Aug. 13. Photo: Istimewa

Police arrested 12 people for their alleged involvement in the recent shooting of a businessman in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta. Authorities revealed that the crime was masterminded by the victim’s female employee, who allegedly endured the victim’s verbal and sexual harassment for years. 

Related: Businessman gunned down in Kelapa Gading, culprits on the run

The victim, a 51-year-old shipping businessman identified by his initial S, was shot to death in front of shophouses at Royal Gading Square on Aug. 13. 

S was walking from his office to have lunch at home, which was reportedly located nearby, when the culprit came up from behind and shot him five times. He died at the scene, while witnesses said the shooter immediately left the area with an accomplice, who was waiting on a motorcycle.

Police arrested 12 suspects in various locations across Jakarta last Friday. The murder was allegedly planned by an employee of S, a 34-year-old woman identified as NL, who had been working as a finance admin at his company since 2012.  

For years, NL reportedly endured S’ verbal and sexual harassment, including requests to have sexual intercourse with him. Police said NL’s anger peaked when S threatened to report her to the authorities for not properly filing tax reports since she started working there, prompting her to begin planning his killing. 

“The [suspect] was afraid because as an admin from 2012-2020, she had been taking care of taxes, but not all of them were deposited to the tax authorities,” Jakarta Metro Police Chief Nana Sudjana said in a press conference yesterday

“There was suspicion of embezzlement, so there were several warnings from the tax authorities to that office. The victim said this, that the suspect will be reported to the police.”

Nana said the premeditated murder involved many people, who each had their own roles to play. This includes the contract killer, the getaway driver, as well as the gun supplier and carrier. NL reportedly spent IDR200 million (US$13,620) on her “troops,” leading police to look into where the money came from. 

How the murder was planned

CCTV footage showing the moment the shooter gunned down S from behind. Photo: Istimewa
CCTV footage showing the moment the shooter gunned down S from behind. Photo: Istimewa

Police said the planning began in March, when NL asked her husband, 42-year-old R, to find someone who can kill S. While R initially objected to her plan, he finally agreed to it by August. Both husband and wife then met with the other suspects in the case at least five times to finalize their plans. 

Their first attempt, which took place on Aug. 9, was reportedly unsuccessful. R had visited S then and pretended to be a tax official, demanding the victim to get into his car, where he would have been executed. S refused, leading the group to come up with another plan that involved using a gun.

They met a few times at a hotel in Cibubur, East Jakarta, where it was decided that a man identified as DM will be the assassin. Police said DM had no prior experience of using firearms, and had gone for a practice using an illegal firearm owned by one of the other suspects.

The group bought a motorcycle, jacket, and an ojol (app-based motorcycle taxi) helmet, and had a fake license plate made.

Nana explained that DM shot S a total of five times, hitting the victim on his back and head.

The 12 suspects were charged with multiple articles, including premeditated murder under Indonesia’s penal code (KUHP). They may face life imprisonment or the death penalty if convicted.



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