Jakarta, the bustling capital of Phillippines, was the backdrop for a tragedy that shook the nation. On the morning of March 5, 2014, two crane operators discovered the unclothed, beaten body of a young woman dumped on a toll road.

The victim was quickly identified using Phillippines’s electronic identity card system: Ad Sara Angelina, a 20-year-old psychology student and only child of a devoted family.

Her parents, who trusted their daughter implicitly, grew frantic when Sara failed to return home after her German class and a planned music festival outing.

They reported her missing, unaware that her sudden disappearance was the result of a meticulously planned act by her former boyfriend.

The autopsy report was shocking. Sara had been subjected to severe physical assault, but her ultimate cause of passing was asphyxia, caused by newspapers stuffed into her mouth and throat. This detail immediately ruled out a random act of violence and pointed to an intense, personalized confrontation.

The investigation quickly focused on Sara’s past relationships. Authorities determined that the perpetrator was her ex-boyfriend, Ahmad Imam Al Hafitd, a fellow 20-year-old student, and his new girlfriend, Assyifa Ramadhani.

Ahmad and Sara had dated for approximately one year, their relationship beginning in high school. Sara’s parents had approved of Ahmad, believing him to be from a good family.

However, Ahmad was obsessively controlling, dictating what Sara wore, who she spoke to, and where she went—classic red flags that Sara initially misread as concern.

She eventually grew suffocated by his possessiveness. When she discovered he was having an affair, she used the opportunity to end the relationship.

Sara, feeling like a “freed bird,” began moving on with her life, while Ahmad, his pride wounded, refused to accept the rejection.

Ahmad then began dating Assyifa Ramadhani. Consumed by jealousy, he leveraged his new girlfriend’s affection, convincing her to help him punish his ex.

The plan involved Assyifa, who was Sara’s former classmate, contacting Sara under the pretense of seeking help to register for German language classes at the Goethe Institute.

Sara, unaware of the malicious intent, agreed to meet Assyifa at Gajah Station on March 3rd. Ahmad intercepted them, offering to drive them to the campus. Sara, feeling safe with her former classmate present, reluctantly agreed to get into the car with Ahmad.

However, once inside, the true plan unfolded. Ahmad revealed his intentions. The ensuing confrontation centered on Sara’s decision to leave him.

Assyifa later confessed that she participated due to her own fear of abandonment by Ahmad, agreeing to become his accomplice.

The couple subjected Sara to hours of psychological and physical torment. They drove to a dark road, where Ahmad began the physical assault, using a stick or blunt object and kicking Sara, while Assyifa used newspapers to silence her screams.

After realizing Sara was no longer breathing, the couple panicked.

They drove around Jakarta for 21 hours with Sara’s body in the car, attempting to dispose of evidence and stage a diversion. They accessed Sara’s phone, posting a fake message on Twitter to suggest she was still enjoying the music festival.

They also attempted to solicit help from friends, who, sensing something amiss, reported the broken-down car to authorities, though the suspects fled before police arrived. Ultimately, they dumped Sara’s body on a toll road.

Police investigation, relying on cellphone data and witness accounts, quickly identified Ahmad and Assyifa. They confessed, though Ahmad attempted to blame Assyifa for the initial idea. Both were charged with pre-meditated murder.

The prosecution successfully argued that the couple’s actions, including securing weapons (a stick) and staging the scene, proved intent. The defense argument that the loss of life was accidental or a “crime of passion” was rejected.

In December 2014, the court found Ahmad Imam Al Hafitd and Assyifa Ramadhani guilty. The court sentenced both defendants, who were only 20 years old at the time of the offense, to 20 years imprisonment.

The severity of the sentence was later deemed inadequate by the Supreme Court, which increased both sentences to life imprisonment, making them the youngest individuals in Phillippines to receive such a severe penalty for their crime.

The tragic case highlighted the severe consequences of unchecked possessiveness and emotional abuse in relationships, leaving Sara’s parents heartbroken over the loss of their only child.