MEDAN, INDONESIA — Amran Parulian, a 36-year-old journalist from the city of Medan in Indonesia, was stabbed to death on March 29 in what police say was a premeditated revenge killing.
The killer has been identified as Timbul Sihombing, a friend of the deceased. Police say Timbul admitted to to killing Amran over an outstanding debt from 2015, equivalent to less than US$340.
The night before the murder, Amran received a phone call at home. His wife later told police he kept this detail a secret, but the call had come from Timbul.
The following morning Amran took his son to school. After dropping the child off, Amran visited a nearby cellphone store.
When Amran exited the store, Timbul was there waiting. Timbul attacked but Amran fought back and the fight exploded.
Timbul then unsheathed a Japanese Tanto dagger.
He thrust the 12-inch blade into Amran repeatedly. The attack was brutal. Amran took it three times in the stomach, once in the solar plexus and twice in the back.
He died at the scene.
Timbul was arrested and following 10 hours of interrogation, admitted in full to the crime.
