Autopsy links Singaporean suspect to Bali woman's death

Denpasar, Bali (ANTARA) - An autopsy found a woman killed in Bali died from neck injuries consistent with strangulation, while police arrested her Singaporean boyfriend on suspicion of murder, authorities said on Thursday.

Denpasar Deputy Police Chief Adjunct Senior Commissioner I Ketut Widiarta said the autopsy was conducted at Prof. Ngoerah General Hospital after the victim's body was taken there early Thursday.

"The forensic examination confirmed the cause of death was blunt-force trauma to the neck, consistent with strangulation," Widiarta said.

Forensic doctors found bruises on the victim's face, left lip, right forehead and both temples. They also found a 5-by-3-centimeter hemorrhage in the left neck muscle, bleeding in the neck's soft tissue and other injuries.

A fracture at the base of the hyoid bone further supported the conclusion that the victim died from strangulation, police said.

Based on the autopsy, doctors estimated the victim died three to five days before her body was taken to the hospital.

Police believe the woman died around 4:00 a.m. local time on July 10 after an argument with her 25-year-old Singaporean boyfriend, identified by the initials MZ.

Investigators said the suspect became enraged after the victim told him she wanted to end their relationship.

The victim's family found her body on Wednesday after being unable to contact her for nearly a week.

Police said the suspect fled by motorcycle but was arrested less than three hours later by a joint police team in South Denpasar.

Widiarta said MZ had lived in Indonesia for about a year on a tourist visa and had overstayed his permitted stay.

MZ has been charged under Indonesia's Criminal Code with murder and aggravated assault causing death, offenses carrying a maximum prison sentence of 15 years.

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Translator: Rolandus Nampu, Resinta Sulistiyandari

Editor: Rahmad Nasution

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