Remember The Murder Of TKW At The Geylang Hotel, Singapore? The Perpetrator Was Sentenced To Death

Photo illustration (Ari Spada / Unsplash)

JAKARTA - Bangladeshi man, Ahmed Salim was sentenced to death after killing his girlfriend who is an Indonesian domestic assistant (ART). The murder took place at the Geylang Hotel, Singapore. This murder was actually highlighted two years ago.

Launching CNA, Monday, December 14, the 31-year-old man killed Nurhidayati Wartono Surata because of an affair. It was revealed in court that the victim would prefer someone else over Ahmed.

During the murder, Ahmed strangled Nurhidayati with a towel. Afterwards, all of Nurhidayati's valuables were taken by Ahmed, who then left Nurhidayati's body at the hotel.

At night, the body was found by the hotel receptionist. In an autopsy performed by the Singapore police, the cause of death for the ART was due to strangulation and spinal cord injury.

Judicial Commissioner Mavis Chionh believes the killings were premeditated. "The killings demonstrated careful planning, convincing planning, and methodical execution," he said.

Mavis also denied Ahmed's defense, saying that it was Nurhidayati who deliberately provoked Ahmed's emotions. According to Ahmed, Nurhidayati used embarrassing words to her, such as, "She's better than you," "She's better than you in hotels," "She's better in bed," or "She's better financially."

The judge said that he could not find these words coming out of the victim's mouth. According to the judge, Ahmed did not mention those words in several police statements and in interviews with Institute of Mental Health (IMH) psychiatrists.

"I found the explanation for his failure to mention embarrassing words in the police statement and to (IMH psychiatrist) absurd," said the judge. "I agree with the prosecution that the defendant's story about such shameful words is just hoax."

Even if the victim said such words, the judge would say that this was premeditated murder. Because, Ahmed had stored the rope in his pants and took him to the hotel. Moreover, after the murder Ahmed emptied the victim's bank account.

"Regarding the totality of evidence, I found that the defendant had decided even before December 30, 2018, that he would kill the victim as long as the victim refused to leave his new girlfriend and come back with him," concluded Judicial Commissioner Chionh.