Cirebon. Kartini, 48, the mother of Pegi Setiawan, also known as Perong, a suspect in the 2016 murder case of Vina Dewi Arsita and her boyfriend, Muhammad Rizky "Eki" Rudiana, insists that her son is neither a murderer nor a motorcycle gang member as alleged by the police.

During her visit, Pegi reassured his mother that he did not commit the crimes the police accused him of.

"'Mom, if something happens after you leave, if I don't live long, I apologize to you and Dad. I am being scapegoated by important people and officials. I didn’t do anything. If I die, I die a martyr,'" Kartini recounted, echoing her son's words when she visited him at the West Java Police Headquarters on Thursday.

"In my eyes, Pegi is just someone who works to provide for his siblings. He has been working in construction for a long time in Bandung," Kartini shared in an exclusive interview with Beritasatu.com, The Jakarta Globe's sister publication, on Friday.

Vina, a second-year vocational high school student at the time, fell victim to a motorcycle gang on Jalan Raya Talun, Cirebon Regency, West Java. Her body, alongside Eki's, was discovered on a sidewalk. Initially categorized as a vehicle incident, the subsequent investigation uncovered the murders and sexual assault.

The case gained renewed attention after the release of the film "Vina: Sebelum 7 Hari (Vina: Before 7 Days)" on May 8, depicting the incident. The movie has been watched by 5 million viewers since its release.

The West Java Regional Police confirmed the arrest of Pegi in Bandung, West Java, on Wednesday, after eight years on the run. 

"No police officers came to our house before the arrest. And when the arrest happened in Bandung, no one came to the house," Kartini said.

In 2016, at the time of Vina and Eki's murder, Kartini said Pegi was working in Bandung as a construction laborer alongside his father and three brothers.

She explained that Pegi does not know the eight convicts who have already served their sentences for the same case. She also had never seen Pegi wearing any gang-related attire or accessories.

Kartini believes that Pegi has been mistakenly arrested by the police, who are still pursuing two other fugitives, Andi, 30, and Dani, 28.

"As a mother, when I met Pegi at the police headquarters, I asked him, 'Did you do it?'"

Pegi replied, 'No, by Allah, by the Prophet, I work to support my siblings.'

"My heart broke. I told him, 'God willing, Allah knows the truth. If you are innocent, you don't need to worry. Let them beat you and force you to confess. Your words must remain the same, even if you are forced or have to die," Kartini said.

Jogie Nainggolan, a lawyer representing five of the eight convicts, questioned the lack of forensic evidence during the investigation, particularly regarding DNA tests.

Saka Tatal, one of the eight convicts, recently claimed he was wrongly convicted. He was just 15 when he was arrested and coerced into confessing to the crime. He was punished with an 8-year sentence but was released in 2020, while the others received life imprisonment. "I was at home with family and friends that night, unaware of the crime," Saka, now 23, told BTV.

The Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) has received a request for witness protection regarding the murder case. LPSK Deputy Chairperson Susilaningtyas said that they are currently reviewing the request for protection submitted by a witness.

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