Top Indonesian diplomat calls Rurik Jutting a ‘psycho’, vows to help murder victims’ families
Tri Tharyat, Consul General of Indonesia in Hong Kong, says consulate will aid relatives of Sumarti Ningsih and Seneng Mujiasih in suing British banker for compensation
Warning: the following article contains graphic descriptions of violence
“I was shocked. I mean, where in the world could a human do it? I read the newspapers because it has been a hot issue in Indonesia. It is beyond anyone’s minds for a person to take this kind of action to innocent people for whatever reason,” Tri said, recalling his reaction when he first learned of the deaths of Sumarti Ningsih, 23, and Seneng Mujiasih, 26.
“Back then, I came to the conclusion that the perpetrator was a psycho ... personally I want to see the most severe punishment possible.”
The High Court heard earlier that Sumarti was tortured for three days with a belt and sex toys, before Jutting cut her throat with a knife, sawing through so deep that she was almost decapitated.
Days later, Jutting picked up Seneng at a pub and brought her home, brutally slashing her throat when she saw props he had prepared and panicked.
Tri, who took up the top diplomatic position in September, said that a non-governmental organisation is planning to help the duo’s family members file a civil lawsuit against Jutting for compensation. He said that the consulate is ready to help. He will be meeting the organisation this week.
“We are ready to help in our capacity in, for example, providing the documents and so on. But of course, as a government we cannot be a party to the case because this is a private case,” Tri said.
The documents he referred to include the pair’s contracts with their employers when they were working as domestic workers in Hong Kong as well as others concerning the killings.
While the duo’s family members have criticised the Indonesian government for not providing adequate help to them, including flying them to Hong Kong to identify the bodies, Tri stressed that the government and his consulate cared very much about them.
The consulate had remained in close contact with the Hong Kong police during the investigation, he said.
Mission For Migrant Workers general manager Cynthia Abdon-Tellez confirmed her group was preparing to file civil lawsuits seeking damages from Jutting on behalf of the two victims’ families.
“We [will] sue for loss of life and support for the families,” she said.
The Asian Migrants’ Coordinating Body is raising funds for the two victims’ families. From now till November 22, you can donate to:
Account name: Association of Indonesian Migrant Workers in Hong Kong
Account address: Nathan Road, Jordan, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR
Account number: 127-7-027379
Bank name: HSBC
Please SMS or Whatsapp your receipt to 6992 0878.
