Surabaya. A music teacher was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Thursday for the murder of Angeline Nathania, a third-year law student at the University of Surabaya (Ubaya). The victim's body was discovered inside a suitcase in a ravine in June of last year.

Rochmad Bagus Apriyatna, 41, was found guilty of strangling Angeline to death and subsequently stealing her car, a Mitsubishi X-pander. The presiding judge, I Ketut Kimiarsa, said during the sentencing at the Surabaya District Court that the defendant committed premeditated murder.

Angeline's remains were placed in a suitcase and discarded in a ravine located in the nearby Mojokerto regency, East Java.

"The defendant, Rochmad Bagus Apriyatna, has been conclusively found guilty of premeditated murder and is sentenced to 20 years in prison," declared the judge while reading the verdict.

When asked if he intended to appeal his conviction, Rochmad replied, "I accept my sentence, Your Honor."

Police investigations identified Rochmad as the sole suspect, establishing that he was the last person to have contact with the victim. This conclusion was drawn from security camera footage at an apartment where Angeline previously resided.

According to court records, Angeline had a prior acquaintance with her assailant, having taken music lessons from Rochmad during her high school years.

Rochmad admitted to killing Angeline on May 5 with the intention of pilfering her possessions as part of his plan to "start a new business" in Pacitan, East Java.

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