Lambang and the Antiquities Mafia
Archaeologist Lambang Babar Purnomo died in a ditch by the Yogyakarta northern bypass in the early hours in February. The death of the 56-year-old sparked many questions. At the time, Lambang was busy investigating a network of people involved in the theft of antiquities, from fossils at the Sangiran site to the collection of Surakarta’s Radya Pustaka Museum.
Tempo retraced the steps of Lambang in the final hours before his death. The results of the autopsy, interviews with witnesses and discussions with forensic experts all strongly indicate that Lambang was murdered. There are signs that runners—brokers of antiquities—were behind the killing.
October 14, 2008
DAWN, February 9, 2008. Erni Permatasari woke up. The maid working at the house of I Made Wibawa, North Ring Road No. 151, Yogyakarta, was ready to start her morning routine watering the plants and the yard. As she approached the gate, the 22-year-old heard a moan of pain. “Help, help, oh God, help...”
Erni looked into the street. All was quiet. The four-lane highway was still in darkness. But she saw a man moving quickly. The hairs on the b
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