inp.polri.go.id - Muara Enim. The Criminal Investigation Unit of the Muara Enim Sub-regional Police, successfully solved the case of the discovery of a woman's body with burns in the Enim 3 River, Karang Raja Village, Muara Enim District.
Less than 24 hours after the body was discovered on Wednesday (5/27/2026), police arrested M. Ari Pratama (33), the perpetrator of the murder, who was none other than the victim's ex-boyfriend.
The victim was identified as Ayu Puspita Sari (23), a housewife from Hamlet II, Parjito Village, Gunung Megang District. The victim had been reported missing by her family for four days.
Muara Enim Sub-regional Police Chief, Superintendent Hendri Syaputra, praised his team's swift action in solving the murder and theft with violence.
"Thanks to the hard work and astuteness of our field officers, particularly the Rajawali Team from the Criminal Investigation Unit, we were able to solve this case in less than 24 hours. This was a particularly heinous crime, in which the perpetrator not only killed the victim but also attempted to cover up the crime by burning the body before dumping it in the river," explained Hendri Syaputra, Friday (5/29/2026).
The Head of the Muara Enim Sub-regional Police Criminal Investigation Unit, Senior Superintendent Muhamad Andrian, explained that the murder was triggered by the suspect's feelings which hurt over the victim's words.
"Based on the investigation, the suspect's motive was purely emotional. The suspect and the victim initially rented a room at a guesthouse on Sunday (5/24/2026). At that time, the victim asked to buy her an iPhone. However, the suspect refused, claiming he was still married and not yet divorced. This refusal sparked an argument that escalated into violence," explained Andrian.
He explained that the murder occurred when the suspect, overcome with rage, immediately pinned the victim down and strangled her, killing her on the inn's bed. After ensuring the victim wasn't breathing, the suspect locked the room from the outside and returned home around 4:00 PM, taking the victim's cell phone with him.
The following day, Monday (May 25, 2026), at around 3:00 AM, the suspect returned to the inn to cover his crime. He wrapped the victim's body in a sheet, placed it in a large bucket, and transported it in his car.
Afterward, the suspect drove to the Enim 3 bridge area. On the way, he purchased Pertalite fuel.
Upon arriving at the riverbank, the suspect piled pieces of wood on top of the bucket containing the body, doused it with fuel, and then set it on fire. After the fire was extinguished around 5:00 AM, the suspect immediately dumped the remains of the victim's body into the Enim River.
The case began to unravel when three residents relaxing on a roadside barrier discovered a body floating in the Enim River 3 on Wednesday afternoon (May 27, 2026). The discovery was immediately reported to the police, and the body was taken to Dr. H. M. Rabain Regional Hospital for an autopsy.
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