A Singaporean national identified by his initials MZ, 26, was arrested by Denpasar Police after allegedly killing his girlfriend, identified as AS, 26, at their rented home in Pedungan, Denpasar, Bali.
Police revealed the killing was triggered when the victim asked to end the relationship. After her death, the suspect is accused of concealing her body for five days as it decomposed.
The case came to light on the night of Wednesday, July 15, 2026, after the victim’s younger sibling came to check on her after being unable to reach her by phone. Police subsequently arrested MZ and named him a suspect.
Here are eight facts from the case:
1. Victim Found Dead at Rented Home
AS was found dead after her sibling, identified as RA, went to her rented home after failing to reach her by phone. Upon arrival, RA smelled a strong odor and eventually discovered her sister’s body concealed under a pile of stuffed toys and a carpet.
RA also encountered MZ at the property. When she asked about her sister’s whereabouts, RA struck the suspect with a helmet before he fled on a motorcycle.
2. Suspect’s New Girlfriend Grew Suspicious of the Smell
Police revealed the foul odor from the rented home had previously drawn suspicion from DP, a woman who was the suspect’s new girlfriend.
“The witness was invited by the suspect to stay overnight at the boarding house that was the crime scene, and at that time the witness smelled something unpleasant, but did not ask what the smell was,” said Denpasar Police public relations chief Iptu I Gede Adi Saputra Jaya.
Several days later, DP again asked MZ about the source of the smell. The suspect became angry.
“DP asked the suspect about the smell she noticed, but the suspect became angry and said ‘why are you asking’ while hitting the wall,” Adi said.
3. Motive for the Killing
Investigation results revealed the killing occurred after the victim asked to end the relationship.
“When the suspect could not accept being broken up with by the victim, he then strangled the victim,” said Acting Deputy Police Chief of Denpasar AKBP I Ketut Widiarta.
The suspect allegedly strangled the victim for approximately 15 minutes until she died. Her body was then moved to another room and covered with stuffed toys and a carpet.
4. Autopsy Results
The autopsy concluded the victim died from blunt force trauma to the neck.
“It can be concluded that the cause of the victim’s death was blunt force trauma to the neck, consistent with strangulation carried out by the suspect,” Widiarta said.
Doctors also found bruising on her face, left lip, right forehead, left temple, blood infiltration in the neck muscles, and a fracture at the base of the left side of her tongue.
5. Alleged Infidelity
According to RA, her sister’s relationship with the suspect was frequently marked by fights over alleged infidelity.
“The victim probably asked to break up with the suspect because he had been caught cheating several times, and the victim kept forgiving him,” RA said.
RA said she hopes the suspect receives a sentence commensurate with his actions and expressed appreciation to police for solving the case.
6. Stuffed Toys and an Air Purifier
Police revealed MZ had turned on an air purifier in an attempt to reduce the odor from the victim’s body. The body had previously been covered with a carpet and a pile of stuffed toys.
“To eliminate the smell, according to the suspect’s confession, he tried using an air purifier. However, it was still detected by the victim’s sibling,” Widiarta said.
Police also found that MZ had been in Indonesia for approximately one year with overstay status. Investigators are still coordinating with Singapore Police to trace the suspect’s background.
7. Neighbors Noticed Nothing Suspicious
The victim’s neighbor, Yanik Prawira, 39, said he never suspected the suspect of anything. He described MZ as friendly whenever they crossed paths.
“Of course I was shocked, especially since we lived right next to each other. He was in unit two, I was in unit three,” Yanik said.
He added he never heard any commotion or smelled anything unusual during the period the victim’s body was kept in the rented home.
8. Potential Sentence
Police seized several pieces of evidence in the case, including stuffed toys, a carpet, a mattress, clothing, a towel, and the suspect’s identification documents.
MZ has been charged under Article 468, Paragraph (2), and/or Article 458, Paragraph (1) of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code, relating to severe assault resulting in death and/or murder. The suspect faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.
