Suherdjoko, Semarang – Central Java Police confirmed on Friday that a body that was found charred alongside a motorcycle belonged to Paulus Iwan Boedi Prasetijo, a Semarang, Central Java, administration official who was a key witness in an alleged corruption at the city's financial agency.
Sr. Comr. Iqbal Alqudusy, the provincial police spokesperson, said that Paulus had been reported missing on Aug. 24, before the burned body was found among bushes in the Marina Beach area on Sep. 8.
"The body's identity was confirmed after a DNA test against samples provided by Paulus' children," Iqbal said.
The body was found without the head and several other body parts by workers who were about to clear the bushes. The left and right hands and right foot were later found following a search around the location.
He was a key witness in an alleged corruption case at a Semarang city financial and asset-management agency. Paulus was supposed to answer the police's summons for questioning on Aug. 25.
Central Java Police's Special Crimes Directorate is investigating alleged corruption in property-title declaration of eight plots of lands in the city, which was reported by a local non-governmental organization in April.
Paulus had given preliminary information to the police and was willing to give further information.
Central Java Police's detective chief Sr. Comr. Djuhandani Rahardjo Puro said it was highly likely that Paulus was murdered.
The police have so far questioned 14 people in relation to the death, including eight family members, three of his colleagues and three people who found his body. (dre)