A Singaporean man accused of killing his Indonesian girlfriend in Denpasar allegedly strangled her after she told him she wanted to end their relationship, according to Indonesian police, who have now disclosed the suspected motive behind the case that shocked Bali this week.
The suspect, identified by the initials MZ, 26, was arrested after the body of AS, 26, was discovered inside a boarding house in Pedungan, South Denpasar, several days after her death.
Police said the victim had asked to break up with MZ during an argument in the early hours of July 10, triggering the fatal attack.
“When the suspect refused to accept the victim’s request to end the relationship, he then strangled her,” Acting Deputy Denpasar Police Chief AKBP I Ketut Widiarta said during a press conference on Thursday.
Police Reconstruct the Fatal Attack
Investigators said the couple argued after MZ returned to the boarding house at around 4 a.m. local time.
According to police, the confrontation escalated when AS told him she wanted to end the relationship.
Authorities allege MZ then strangled the victim for approximately 15 minutes until she died.
Afterward, police said he moved her body into an adjacent room and attempted to conceal it beneath stuffed toys and a carpet.
The body remained hidden until it was discovered several days later by the victim’s younger sibling, who had become concerned after repeated calls went unanswered.
Autopsy Supports Police Findings
Police said forensic examinations support the suspect’s confession.
The autopsy concluded that AS died from blunt-force trauma to the neck caused by sustained compression, injuries consistent with manual strangulation.
Doctors also documented bruising to the victim’s face, forehead, temple, and lip, along with extensive bleeding within the neck muscles and a fracture of the left greater horn of the hyoid bone, injuries commonly associated with forceful strangulation.
“The cause of death was determined to be blunt-force violence to the neck, with injuries consistent with the strangulation demonstrated by the suspect during the reconstruction,” Widiarta said.
Evidence Seized
Investigators recovered several items from the boarding house, including the carpet and stuffed toys allegedly used to conceal the victim’s body, along with clothing, bedding, a towel, and identification documents.
Police have charged MZ under Indonesia’s new Criminal Code with murder and/or aggravated assault resulting in death, offenses carrying a maximum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment.
The investigation remains ongoing as prosecutors prepare the case for trial.
The killing has drawn widespread attention in Bali because it involves a foreign national and has renewed concerns over domestic violence within intimate relationships. Authorities have urged anyone experiencing abuse or threats of violence to seek help before situations escalate into tragedy.
