murder february august best known pen indonesian journalist murdered reporter java daily newspaper published series articles corruption months death august attacked house unidentified metal rod taken hospital died days later regaining consciousness murder national cause independent inquiries concluded local government officials involved police early discounted political motive instead arrested local driver named murder alleging motive jealousy later acquitted prosecution withdrew case owing lack evidence police turn successfully sued case deliberate destruction evidence murder solved expected indonesia year statute limitations murder life journalism born february date considered calendar fell monday father mosque mother siblings young man wanted join indonesian military unable family lack political connections instead worked manual labour jobs including years prior death freelance reporter daily newspaper java owned known writing crime local politics pictures illustrate articles aside reporting wife owned small store developed pictures sold stationary usually manage store began series articles reporting corruption regency suburb focusing particularly activities regent colonel report stated paid bribe billion president secure year reported demanded village heads guarantee cent victory president party upcoming legislative elections following publication articles began complain considered campaign official harassment district officials reportedly spoken writings threatened libel action result perceived harassment filed multiple complaints offered bribes cease reporting received threats violence wife asked threats responded write facts die accept night murder men came office looking secretary sent away murder august local time utc received visitors outside home visitors claimed want leave motorcycle reportedly come day wife preparing tea men attacked metal rod striking head stomach escaped motorcycle parked home found unconscious ground bleeding ears help youths passing neighbour took small hospital nearby hospital equipped treat wounds transferred protestant institution coma diagnosed fractured skull bone skull initially coverage assault slow murder occurred late evening covered august edition head editor press censorship uncomfortable covering politically charged case staff members convinced greater coverage page august edition showed covered gave detailed information case august died having regained consciousness morning death breathing tube inserted death body brought office quick memorial service staff sang fallen flowers following day buried small cemetery burial attracted people survived wife children investigation cause investigation assault began death police began investigation august hampered crime scene contaminated assault command police began collecting notes blood family family received bags blood planning bury body members indonesia formed fact finding team august leadership team read articles written previous months looking coverage led attack concluded articles trigger committee eventually focused allegations ones exclusively covered case election rigging team known white team type car drove investigated case independently team failed share information gathered death swiftly national cause circumstances death resulting investigation covered extensively national media muslim prayer services held seven days death attracted hundreds saw community leaders speeches politics death wrote poems police ruled political reporting motive early stages investigation reports focused theory killing related reporting journalist quoted regent having said shortly murder like teach lesson police focused instead allegations infidelity late august police stated murdered jealous husband result affair woman named radio dated younger brother soon admitted press paid testimony nephew teams concluded murdered government official intent saving face late september political pressure cease coverage case team members reported daughter nearly kidnapped home broken human rights organisations stated belief murder likely connected reporting including expressed concern allegations involvement government officials properly investigated sent letter president demanded investigation death results public independent report praised courage neutrality reporting stating activist involved student movement ordinary journalist average job regional newspaper regent denied reports rumours press conference august said receiving end arrest october police arrested advertising company driver murder alleged killed having affair wife confessed crime police announced iron bar shirt stained blood found home police appointed lawyer agreed confessed crime week obtained independent counsel attempted withdraw confession seen husband attackers insisted innocent october published sketch attacker drawn soon murder based description picture photograph wrote rejected drawing attention withdrew confession alleged police encouraged confess alcohol money prostitute better job confessed crime husband murderer wrote letters high ranking officials bodies including president received reply october commission announced investigate irregularities arrest counsel team located witnesses account including prostitute police continued investigation pressure finish quickly murder conducted drawing hundreds spectators playing role murderer lawyers knowledge counsel found removed reconstruction eventually police agreed deal counsel pre trial release guaranteed exchange promise lawyers sue arrest released december awaiting trial early case refused prosecutor office times weak evidence charges november family announced intention sue city improper use evidence announcement followed report police chief blood disposed southern sea offering area deity ensure quick resolution investigation lawyers filed case january police national provincial local lawsuit demanded million damages police countered blood given voluntarily hoped exploit situation hearing began january supervision judge panel led sides unable come settlement month long trial began family reporters police testified april convicted destroying evidence taking blood lawyers speculated frame small percentage damages awarded court ruled testimony family saw having conflict interest outcome case ineligible trial shortly case concluded members team assigned distant cities final unsuccessful plea council drop case prosecutor office appointed lead case july legislative elections office filed charges trial began july members judge panel served case failed attempt defence question court jurisdiction witnesses questioned period weeks including neighbours wife nephew hearings held filled spectators trial defence suggested government conspiracy responsible told tribunal focus case hand witnesses including key witness prosecution came changed stories statements trial witnesses prosecution including neighbours testified driver committed murder home night august said steel pipe said murder weapon court different found blood october prosecution began witnesses attendance observers police officers paid spectators witness claimed participated sting operation arrest arrested officer investigated reported pursued driver based instinct evidence presenting account defence ordered judge times answer november prosecution withdrew case indonesian law judges right find subject guilty despite prosecution withdrawal consideration november tribunal acquitted following police refused investigate murder police chiefs stated department fulfilled duty arresting suspect sending trial aftermath june weeks president resigned ousted office students conducted sit soon convicted corruption payment conviction overturned higher court retired served time disposal blood defence initially prepared legal case imprisonment driver chose pursue unable work years acquired case driving public bus near married neighbour child created award honour given exceptional contribution press freedom organisation petitioned case noting indonesian law case declared expired
Murder of Udin