Doubts Surface Before Verdict on Indonesian Student Death in Singapore

JAKARTA LIFE'S STYLE. The head of an independent team pushing for an investigation into the death of David Hartanto Widjaja has expressed doubt that the Singapore’s Coroners Court would rule that the death was a murder.

David, an Indonesian student at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore, was found dead on March 2.

Iwan Piliang, the head of a group formed by David’s parents and supporters, said the witnesses brought before the court were “not to David’s advantage.”

“All of their testimony will likely lead the judge to conclude that David committed suicide,” Piliang said.

“If that’s really the verdict, it will be the end of our search for justice, because the case will end right there and then.”

Reporters in both countries have been following the case since David’s mentor, Prof. Chan Kap Luk, accused the student of attempting to stab him with a knife shortly before his death.

Supporters of the student and his family believe that he may have been murdered and urged the Indonesian government to intervene in the investigation.

“I, on behalf of David Hartanto Widjaja’s family, ask the government to help David get the justice he deserves,” Pilang said.

“David’s death was part of a conspiracy.”

The court is due to hand down its verdict on Wednesday.

David was only 21 years old when his body was discovered on the NTU campus.

He is believed to have committed suicide by jumping from the fourth floor of a building after stabbing his professor.