Australian resident facing possible death penalty in Indonesia denies poisoning murder

EXCLUSIVE: The woman accused of being the “coffee killer”, who could face the death penalty in Indonesia, is an Australian resident.

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EXCLUSIVE
THE woman accused of being the ‘coffee killer’ is a permanent Australian resident who is facing the possibility of the death penalty after allegedly lacing her friend’s iced coffee with cyanide on a holiday in Indonesia.

Jessica Kumala Wongso, 27, was charged with premeditated murder earlier this week over the death of her friend Wayan Mirna Salihin, 27, on January 6.

If found guilty, the charge carries a minimum jail sentence of 20 years and a maximum penalty of life in prison or death.

Mirna died in Jakarta, Indonesia after having an iced coffee with Jessica and another friend, Hani, at the Olivier cafe in Grand Indonesia shopping mall earlier this month.

Police have accused Jessica of lacing Mirna’s drink with cyanide after the newlywed reportedly sipped the iced coffee then started convulsing. She was rushed to hospital and died that day.

Jessica, who denies involvement in Mirna’s death, was the one who ordered the drink that killed Mirna, according to police.

News.com.au can exclusively reveal that Jessica, her parents and two siblings have been permanent residents of Australia since emigrating from Indonesia about eight years ago.

The family resides in Sydney.

A source close to the family told news.com.au that Jessica was on holidays in Indonesia with her parents and was due to return to work as a graphic designer in Sydney just weeks after her arrest.

“She’s innocent,” the source, who is in contact with Jessica, said. “She’s just a common Australian; a 27-year-old young lady who was having a coffee then got into trouble for something she didn’t do.

“She was in the wrong place at the wrong time and (now) she could die.”

NSW Ambulance confirmed Jessica was employed with the service until just a few months ago.

“Jessica Wongso was employed as a temporary agency contractor in an administrative position within NSW Ambulance from July 2014 until her resignation in November 2015,” a statement issued to news.com.au from NSW Ambulance read.

“As this is a matter under police investigation, NSW Ambulance is unable to comment further.”

The Jakarta Post reported the Australian Federal Police was contacted by Jakarta Police “to look into the relationship between Mirna and the friends during their time studying together”, reportedly at Sydney’s Billy Blue College of Design and Swinburne University of Technology.

Wayan Mirna Salihin died from suspected cyanide poisoning. Her friend, known as Jessica Kumala, has been arrested in relation to Mirna's death.

The AFP confirmed “it has been approached by the Indonesian National Police (INP) in relation to this matter”.

“The AFP is currently considering this request in accordance with normal police-to-police assistance processes and policies,” an AFP spokesman said.

“It is not appropriate for the AFP to comment on an INP investigation.

“As this is a matter for Indonesian authorities, further questions should be directed to the Indonesian authorities.”

Indonesian chief detective Krishna Murti said police have gathered about 20 witness statements, including evidence from experts, and conducted a re-enactment.

“Jessica’s statement is highly inconsistent with the facts we have gathered,” Mr Murti told reporters. “We will confirm whether her statement as a suspect is still consistent with her one as a witness or if she will give another statement.”

Indonesia National Police Commission member Edi Saputra Hasibuan said the cafe’s CCTV footage allegedly shows Jessica moving “the coffee drink ... twice”.

Jessica Kumala. Picture: Kahfi Dirga Cayha/kompas.com

Jessica’s lawyer Yudi Wibowo said the evidence was “legally insufficient” and fails to show “her physically pouring poison into the coffee”.

Yudi said Jessica was innocent.

“She is not afraid. She is tough because she has done nothing wrong in relation to the case,” he said earlier this month.

Yudi has questioned the autopsy process undertaken on Mirna’s body, saying he did not believe she died from cyanide poisoning, as her friend Hani had sipped coffee from the same cup.

Police confirmed they found cyanide in Mirna’s stomach and in the coffee she drank before her death.

Jessica Kumala Wongso. Olivier Restaurant, Indonesia. Source: TripAdvisor

Yudi has called for a second autopsy to be conducted in another hospital, after it was first completed in Kramat Jati Police Hospital on January 10.

Mirna recently married her partner, Arief Soemarko.

Yudi also denied rumours there was a love triangle between his client and Mirna’s husband.

“There is nothing like that. Jessica has a boyfriend overseas,” he said, according to local media reports.