The Motive of Wowon’s Gang Does Not Only Concern Money
There are suspicions that the nine murders allegedly committed by Wowon’s gang was not only because of money, as Wowon’s own biological child was killed as well.
By
ERIKA KURNIA
·4 minutes read
KOMPAS
The death of Halimah, wife of Wowon, the serial killer, is still a mystery. The motive behind the gang's alleged murders may not only concern money.
JAKARTA, KOMPAS – The motive for the murders allegedly committed by Wowon Eriawan (60), also known as Aki, Solihin (63), also known as Duloh and Dede (35) is still under investigation. The police are investigating the flow of around Rp 1 billion into the perpetrator’s account. However, the motive behind the gang’s alleged murders may not only concern money.
There are suspicions that the nine murders allegedly committed by Wowon’s gang was not only because of money, as Wowon’s own biological child was killed as well. One of his neighbors, Ujang Zaenal Mustofa (54), was poisoned with the intention of ridding bad luck.
Polda Metro Jaya (Jakarta Metropolitan Police) public relations head Sr. Comr. Trunoyudo Wisu Andiko said investigators were still examining the motive for the murders, although there were strong indications it was due to money. This was supported by the results of an investigation which found the flow of funds of Rp 1 billion (US$66,758).
“Investigators still need to find out the flow of money entering and leaving the perpetrator’s account. Thus, we can trace what the money was used for and determine when this economic motive began,” said Trunoyudo at the Polda Metro Jaya headquarters in Jakarta on Monday (23/1/2023).
Separately, head of the Polda Metro Jaya crime and violence subdirectorate, Adj. Sr. Indrawienny Panjiyoga, said the bank account of the suspect was made under Dede’s name. However, Wowon held onto the ATM card.
“The flow of funds came from several victims of TKW [female migrant workers], totaling approximately Rp 1 billion. The money was transferred regularly every month since the account was created in April 2019. We are still trying to find out who the TKW are,” said Indrarainny.
Mostly female migrant workers
Of the nine victims of the Wowon gang murders, five were female migrant workers. They are Ai Maemunah (40), who left for Oman around 2013, Halimah who left for Saudi Arabia around 2011, Wiwin who left around 2000 as well as Siti and Farida.
Meanwhile, six of the nine victims of the murders, namely Ai Maemunah, Noneng, Wiwin, Siti, Farida and Halimah were close to Wowon. The other three victims were Ridwan Abdul Muiz (23), M Riswandi (17) and Bayu (2). Ridwan and Riswandi were Wowon’s stepchildren, while Bayu was Wowon's child with Maemunah.
AGUSTINUS YOGA PRIMANTORO
The hole where the body of B (2), a serial killer victim, was found in the yard of the house of Wowon Eriawan alias Aki (60) in Babakan Mande Village, Gunungsari Village, Ciranjang District, Cianjur Regency, West Java, Sunday (22/1/2023)..
Halimah was another wife of Wowon. She died in 2016 and was buried in West Bandung regency due to a suspected illness. The police are now investigating the possibility that Halimah was also a victim of the Wowon gang scam and murder syndicate. Halimah is the biological mother of Ai Maemunah (40), who is also married to Wowon. Maemunah died of poisoning in Ciketing Udik, Bekasi, West Java on Thursday (12/1/2023).
“According to the investigation, Halimah was buried in Cililin in West Bandung regency in around 2016. [At the time, her death was] allegedly caused by an illness. In this regard, the investigation has not yet come to an end. It is possible that an exhumation or autopsy will be carried out to confirm the cause of her death,” said Trunoyudo.
Ai Maemunah was killed in a rented house in Ciketing Udik. She was found dead with her two children from a previous marriage, namely Ridwan and Riswandi. Bayu was also killed and buried in Cianjur.
According to the investigation, Halimah was buried in Cililin in West Bandung regency in around 2016.
Meanwhile, Wowon’s other wife, Wiwin, is buried with her mother, Noneng, in Solihin’s backyard around 2021.
“By combining scientific results with technical and tactical investigations, it was found that the motive behind the murders was fraud by making promises supported by supernatural abilities to convince [victims] to hand over material possessions. Then, after promising that the material can be multiplied, [the victim] can get richer and more successful, while it ends with the loss of the victim’s life,” said Trunoyudo.
Three motives
University of Indonesia criminology lecturer Adrianus Meliala said there were three motives behind the murders, namely getting rich, taking lives and fraud. These three motives went hand-in-hand and were planned.
“I do not see an element of urgency for the perpetrators to kill their own family members. What is more realistic is the need for sacrifices,” said Adrianus.
Adrianus argues, someone among the suspects, or all three of them, adhered to certain beliefs. In this belief, the wealth or power desired by the suspect could be achieved through sacrifice. “Perhaps the perpetrator's occult ability was somehow depleted and so in order to restore it, the perpetrator required a sacrifice. As a form of sacrifice, the perpetrator killed the most important people closest to him, including his own flesh and blood,” he continued.
In terms of money-related motives, said Adrianus, the suspects might have been dissatisfied with the results and so continued to gain more. (Z08)
