Jakarta – Indonesian prosecutors, on Thursday, sought a-20-year sentence for a woman accused of murdering her friend with a cyanide-laced drink.
Jessica Wongso, 27, was arrested in January after her friend, Mirna Salihin, allegedly died of cyanide poisoning after drinking an iced coffee at a Jakarta cafe.
“Wongso should be found guilty of pre-meditated murder,” the prosecutors said during the hearing at the Central Jakarta District Court.
“The defendant carried out her plan in a measured way and after careful considerations,’’ the prosecutors said in a written recommendation.
The indictment said Wongso arranged to meet with Salihin and another friend at the cafe in January and arrived first to order drinks for her friends and herself.
“She allegedly then laced Salihin’s drink with approximately five milligrams of cyanide,’’ the prosecution said.
Salihin vomited heavily after drinking the iced coffee and died shortly afterwards.
The indictment said Wongso was angry with Salihin for telling her to break her relationship with her boyfriend.
Wongso’s defence team had challenged the prosecution’s assertion that Salihin died of cynaide poisoning while she also had denied any wrongdoing.
No fewer than three forensic experts testifying as defence witnesses, told the court that there was no evidence that cyanide was the cause of Salihin’s death.
The case is being closely followed in Indonesia and the hearings were broadcast live by three television channels.
The trial was adjourned till Oct. 12.
Edited by Oluleye Abiodun
Controlled by Yemi Idris-Aduloju