Life is Healthy

Ni Komang Erviani, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar | Wed, 02/10/2010 10:15 AM | Bali

Prosecutors are seeking a lifetime sentence for the sole defendant in the murder of Japanese tourist Rika Sano during a session at the Denpasar District Court on Monday.

The prosecutors demanded that the panel of judges hand down life imprisonment to David Goltar Wicaksono, 26, who allegedly murdered, raped and violently robbed the 33-year-old woman on Sept. 25, 2009.

“The defendant has intentionally murdered the victim and committed theft with violence and threats,” prosecutor Made Ayu Citra Maya Sari said before the judges.

The defendant was proven to have violated Criminal Code Article 339 on murder, Article 365 on violent theft and Article 285 on rape, the prosecutor said during the session presided over by judge Dewa Putu Wenten.

The prosecutors said David had also violated Article 289 of the Criminal Code for sexual harassing the victim’s friend, Mayumi Someya.

Pretending to be a police officer, the defendant approached Mayumi, who was riding on a motorcycle on Jl. Pantai Kuta with her boyfriend.

As Mayumi ignored him, David stalked her to Prani Hotel, where the woman was staying with Rika.

The bogus officer told Mayumi that he was investigating a drug trafficking case and asked her to go with him.

David then brought Mayumi to a bush around Jl. Dewi Sri in Kuta and sexually abused the victim, but she managed to escape.

The defendant later returned to the hotel to pick up Rika, once again pretending to be a police officer investigating a drug case.

He brought Rika around Kuta on his motorcycle and stopped at a vacant area near the Kampung Bali souvenir shop, where he raped and killed her.

Rika’s dead body was found there three days later.

After killing Rika, David returned to the hotel room and stole the victim’s cash and valuables, including ¥80,000, US$20 and Rp 200,000, a digital music player, a cellular phone and a suitcase.

The autopsy showed that the victim was hit by a blunt object that had broken her bones.

The victim sustained 30 wounds, including to her vital organs, and suffered from blood loss in her brain.

David was arrested by the police on Oct. 2, 2009, after escaping to his hometown Malang, East Java.

In response to the prosecution, David’s lawyer Nengah Jimat said his client would not file an objection.

The next session, to be held on Feb. 15, will hear witness testimonies.