JAKARTA - A civil servant died after allegedly being stabbed by his wife near his office in Ogan Komering Ilir Regency (OKI), South Sumatra, on Monday, as the couple were reportedly in the process of getting a divorce.
The victim, Anton, 32, who worked at the OKI Regency Inspectorate, the local government's internal supervisory body, was reportedly attacked near the local government mosque complex after performing Zohor prayers.
His wife, Deka Ayu, 30, was subsequently detained at the scene before being handed over to the police.
OKI Police Criminal Investigation Unit chief Iptu M Raka Dwi Darma confirmed the incident and said the woman had been detained to assist investigations.
“The case is still under investigation. The suspect has been detained by police,” he said.
According to a report by TribunSumsel.com, the couple were going through divorce proceedings after their marriage was said to have been plagued by problems for a long time.
The victim's brother, who declined to be identified, alleged that Anton had frequently been a victim of domestic violence since about a month after their marriage.
He said the victim could no longer tolerate the situation before deciding to live separately about a month ago and filing for divorce.
The victim's family alleged that the wife's refusal to accept the divorce may have been among the factors that triggered the incident, although this has not been confirmed by police.
A witness identified as Maman said he saw Anton lying covered in blood when he arrived at the scene.
The victim reportedly sustained several stab wounds to his body before his remains were taken to hospital.
A video circulating on social media also showed a woman being detained by several individuals at the scene before authorities took further action.
Police are now gathering witness statements and conducting further investigations to determine the chronology and actual motive behind the incident. - Agencies