Jakarta – West Jakarta Police say the number of domestic violence cases in the municipality during this year's first semester shows an increase compared to the same period last year.

The first semester of 2008 showed 48 reported cases while this semester showed 58, Adj. Comr. Budi Setiadi, the head of women and children protection unit, told kompas.com on Tuesday.

The latest case reported to the West Jakarta Police was the death of Retmiati, 27. She was beaten by her husband, Masan, also known as Mencong, and died Sunday en route to the hospital, her relative, Genden, told tempointeraktif.com.

Genden said before Retmiati died she told him Masan beat her because she returned home without money after soliciting herself.

Neighbors in their neighborhood in Cengkareng said Retmiati had two children from her first marriage. They also said Retmiati and Masan had a baby but they sold it.

Masan, a security guard at Taman Kencana residential complex, is still at large.