A multimillionaire businessman murdered in Bali and dumped in a rice field, allegedly on the orders of his wife, will be farewelled in New Zealand.
Robert Kevin Ellis, 60, was found with his throat cut and covered in plastic and a bed cover in a ditch within a rice paddy about two hours' drive from Denpasar last Tuesday. His hands and feet were bound.
His wife, Julaikah Noor Aini, 45, was arrested later that day and police say she masterminded the murder and paid her housemaid's boyfriend, Adrianus Ngongo, $3100 to kill Mr Ellis. Aini is also alleged to have paid the same amount to up to seven other "executioners", including two maids. She denies the allegations.
Police are considering charging Aini with premeditated murder, which can carry the death penalty.
They believe Mr Ellis, a businessman whose wealth is said to be in the tens of millions, was killed in the kitchen of the villa he had shared with his wife for the past 10 years.
He is survived by his sons with Aini, Peter and John. He also has a son, Kelvin, and daughter, Christina, from a previous relationship. He has dual British and Australian citizenship and lived across the Ditch for more than 15 years before moving to Bali. But he also had strong ties to New Zealand, including business links and two New Zealand-based sisters.
Last night, his family here were making arrangements for his funeral. A spokeswoman said they were not ready to speak about Mr Ellis' murder, and were waiting for his sons to arrive in the country before they made any public comment.
She said the family learned of Mr Ellis' death through the media. They were unsure of the specifics of the case, but told the Herald some details published overseas were incorrect.
Mr Ellis' brother David said last week: "Bob was a loving and devoted father, grandfather, brother, son and husband. His loss leaves a hole in the lives of everyone he touched.
"He was a good and honourable man. As a family we are unified and will be relentless in seeking answers and justice."
In Bali, Mr Ellis was an investor in airlines and hotels and ran a business supplying and maintaining telecommunications equipment.
He was also a director of Kiwi firm Ellis Tourism Properties, which owned motels in Kaiteriteri, Tasman.
Police in Bali told the Jakarta Post newspaper that Aini had "confessed" to organising her husband's murder.
"The victim's wife is the mastermind behind the murder," said Senior Commissioner Komang Suartana.
Aini had told police she felt embittered and wanted to take over her husband's assets. "She says she was hurt by the victim," Mr Suartana told the Australian Associated Press.
"There were many factors, one of them that her husband was frequently cheating on her. She then ordered four people to kill him."
Mr Suartana said Aini drove the car with her husband's body in it, with the housemaids and Ngongo, to the paddy about 25km from the villa.
Bali police spokesman Senior Commissioner Hery Wiyanto said two housemaids kept Mr Ellis' dogs calm while he was murdered. They helped carry his body when it was dumped.
The alleged murder plot was revealed when police arrested Ngongo. He had fled Bali and was caught at Padangbai Harbour on the neighbouring island of Lombok. He had his share of the hit money on him and gave a detailed statement to police, leading to Aini's arrest.
Police believe Mr Ellis was killed with a kitchen knife, and said they had found the car used to transport his body to the field.
Forensic officers also found traces of blood in the villa, which had been meticulously cleaned.
The farmer who found Mr Ellis' body told the Jakarta Post he had seen the plastic in the ditch last Monday but never thought it covered a corpse. He realised it was a body only on Tuesday when he took a closer look.
Police forensic officer Ida Bagus Putu Alit said an autopsy had determined that Mr Ellis died last Monday between 4am and 10.30am.
"Death was as a result of three open wounds to the neck and chin. One of the cuts severed a major artery, causing death," he said.
A neighbour of Mr Ellis and Aini told the Australian the couple had been having problems.
Mr Ellis wanted to end the marriage and had applied for Indonesian citizenship so he could transfer their property from her name to his, the man said.
Under Indonesian law, Mr Ellis could not own property unless he had citizenship.
Yesterday, Aini was led from her cell to speak to her son John. News.com.au said the reunion was emotional. Aini and her son embraced and both were in tears.
By Anna Leask of the NZ Herald
