Indonesian Army Member Named Suspect in Murder of Woman in South Tangerang

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Military Police Detachment has named an (TNI AD) soldier with the initials TS as a suspect in the murder of a woman in South Tangerang. The member with the rank of Private First Class has been detained at the Jaya/1 Military Police Detachment for killing a mother of one, Novi Sopiah, in a rented house on Jalan Bonjol, Pondok Aren District.

"The person concerned has been detained and named a suspect by investigators from Denpom Jaya 1/Tangerang," said the Head of the Indonesian Army Information Service (Kadispenad) Brigadier General Wahyu Yudhayana, when contacted, Sunday, February 2, 2024.

Wahyu stated that currently investigators are still conducting an investigation to explore the motive and other information from TS's actions. He has not yet provided information regarding the development of the suspect's examination results. "Please give investigators time to examine the person concerned."

Kapendam Jaya Colonel Deki R Putra stated that Private TS came from Yonif 318, Kostrad unit. Private TS had been absent without permission from the unit since January 19, 2025. They then searched for TS and found him in the Medang area. "While leaving the unit, the person concerned abused his female colleague which resulted in her death," he said.

After Private TS confessed, Yonif 318 coordinated with Denpom Jaya 1/Tangerang to check the murder location. Officers then found the victim at the scene and evacuated him to the Tangerang Regional Hospital for an autopsy.

Deki said the leadership is committed to prosecuting members who violate the law if there is strong evidence. "On behalf of the entire Indonesian Army, we apologize for the incident that occurred," he said. Deki stated that Private TS's actions were a personal matter and had nothing to do with the institution.

The victim was last seen by neighbors on Sunday, January 29, 2025. At that time, Novi said she was going to meet a friend. Three days later, Novi's boarding house neighbors admitted to smelling an unpleasant odor resembling the smell of a dead rat. At that time, they suspected that there was a dead rat.

Muhammad Iqbal contributed to the writing of this article.

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