Police hunt alleged mastermind as investigators link killing to suspected love triangle
A murder case involving an elderly Singaporean man has shocked Indonesia after police said his body was wrapped, cast in cement, and dumped in a major river in Central Java.
Body Found in River After Disappearance
Indonesian police have arrested two men in connection with the suspected murder of an 80-year-old Singaporean man whose body was found in the Citanduy River in Cilacap, Central Java. Police said the victim had been reported missing from the Tanah Abang area of Jakarta, where he lived in his family home. Local media previously reported that he was last seen on February 16 driving a blue car toward Bogor, south of Jakarta, before his body was discovered in the river on February 20.
Police Say Killing Was Planned
Cilacap police chief Budi Adhy Buono said the victim was allegedly killed at a rented house in Sukabumi, West Java, at around 7.30 p.m. on February 16. An autopsy and investigation found that he died after being struck at the back of the neck with a bamboo pole. After confirming he was dead, the perpetrators allegedly wrapped the body in plastic and a bedsheet, cast it in concrete, and dumped it in the river in an attempt to cover their tracks.
Love Triangle Motive Under Investigation
Police believe the killing may be linked to a love triangle involving the victim, a woman, and the suspected mastermind, who remains at large. According to Budi, the alleged mastermind was jealous of the woman’s relationship with the victim and is believed to have recruited the two arrested suspects to help plan the crime. The motive has made the case even more disturbing, as investigators treat it as a premeditated killing rather than a spontaneous act of violence.
Victim Had Traveled for Treatment
Police said the victim had been ill and traveled to Sukabumi to seek alternative treatment before he was allegedly murdered. His identity was later confirmed through coordination with the Greater Jakarta Metropolitan Regional Police. The fact that he had reportedly left Jakarta for health-related reasons has added another layer of tragedy to the case, especially as investigators piece together how he was lured or brought to the location where the killing took place.
Mastermind Still Being Hunted
The case is now being investigated by police in Sukabumi, where the alleged murder occurred, while authorities continue searching for the third suspect believed to have orchestrated the crime. Budi said the suspects will be charged with premeditated murder and could face the death penalty if convicted. The investigation is likely to draw close attention in both Indonesia and Singapore because of the brutality of the killing and the cross-border profile of the victim.
This case has drawn attention not only because the victim was a Singaporean, but also because of the calculated and violent way the crime was allegedly carried out. For Indonesians, it raises concern about serious violent crime, investigative coordination, and public safety across provinces. For Singaporeans, the case is a grim reminder that cross-border incidents involving citizens abroad can quickly become complex criminal investigations with significant emotional and diplomatic weight.
Sources: Straits Times (2026) , The Star (2026)
Keywords: Singaporean Murder, Cilacap River, Cement Wrapped Body, Sukabumi Killing, Indonesian Police, Premeditated Murder, Love Triangle
