I gathered info and pictures of David Hartanto Widjaya's suicide

This Indonesian-Chinese student jumped off the roof after stabbing his own supervisor for his dissertation in his back in his office.


It happened at NTU (Nanyang Technological University), Singapore, in the morning yesterday (2nd of March). Let me just quote the news to get a more accurate info (Channel News Asia).

A final-year engineering student at the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) jumped from a campus block after stabbing a professor on Monday morning.

The professor was in his office at the engineering faculty when the student stabbed him in the back with a knife, leaving him injured.

After stabbing the professor, the male student - who was in his 20s - slit his wrists and jumped off a five-storey building.

Police said they received a call about the incident at 10.35am, and arrived to find the student dead at the bottom of the engineering block.

Eyewitnesses had also told Channel NewsAsia that a person had been stabbed, and that a student, believed to be an Indonesian-Chinese had slit his wrists before jumping off a building.

An NTU spokesman later confirmed that a final year student from the School of Electrical and Electronics Engineering was involved in the stabbing.

It, however, did not name the two people involved, and only said that their next-of-kin had been notified.

The student is said to be 21-year-old David Hartanto Widjaja and the professor is believed to be Chan Kap Luk, who was left with injuries on his back and arm.

Widjaja was a former president of the NTU Electronic Sports Club.

Prof. Chan

Professor Chan, a Singaporean in his 40s, was sent to the National University Hospital for treatment and is said to be in a stable condition.

The professor has been with NTU's School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering since June 1992.

Professor Chan, who is Deputy Director of the Biomedical Engineering Research Centre at NTU, is said to have been the supervisor of the student in a project.

NTU's president, Su Guaning, pledged to help the families of the professor and student and has mobilised its counselling professionals to help. He also said the matter will be investigated thoroughly.

"The university is deeply shocked and saddened by what has happened... The university community will rally together at this difficult time and do our utmost to help the student's family, the professor and his family, and those traumatised by the incident," added Dr Su.

Speaking to the media at the NUH in the evening, Dr Su said Professor Chan might be discharged in a few days. The stab wound in the professor's back was "deep" but no vital organs were injured. His arm was also not "too badly hurt".

It is understood that at the time of the incident, Widjaja was discussing his final-year project with Professor Chan, as he had difficulty obtaining a pass grade.

Dr Su said Widjaja was a "very good student" whose grades had slipped recently, but he was still considered above average. He said Professor Chan had expressed regret that he could not help his student earlier.

The NTU president said he hopes to prevent such an incident from happening again. "I think it's an overall pastoral care system that is necessary. We've already set up such a thing, with the Student Affairs Office, many counsellors keeping an eye on students with problems.

"Unfortunately, the student never showed that he had problems. ... We would like to review the system to see how we can pick out better students who have such problems, even if they don't communicate with others."

Latest news (March 3) from Straits Times.

DAVID Hartanto Widjaja, 21, was a bright student who came to Singapore four years ago on an Asean scholarship. But things had not seemed right lately.

His performance was slipping and he was struggling with his final-year project, which was due next month.

Nanyang Technological University (NTU) president Su Guaning told reporters yesterday that he learnt from Associate Professor Chan Kap Luk that Widjaja was having problems with his project, which was a discussion on the creation of 3-D images.

But Prof Chan said he had felt that all was not lost, and that some help was all the young man needed to pull through. NTU students have to complete this project to graduate. How well they do in it can make a difference in the honours classification of their degree.

Prof Chan, who was Widjaja's project supervisor, also supervised him through a six-month industrial attachment programme last year.

Dr Su said that Prof Chan seemed regretful and upset that if Widjaja was having problems, he had not spotted them.

A group of about 20 of the student's friends gathered on campus last evening, when they heard about his death. Many appeared shaken. Final-year electrical and electronic engineering student Hardian Setiawan, who had known Widjaja for the last four years, said he was always cheerful.

More about him emerged from his friends: They called him a 'genius' in maths who had previously represented Indonesia in the International Mathematical Olympiad.

A former president of the NTU Electronic Sports Club, he enjoyed computer gaming, they said, but he was a private person who preferred to indulge in this alone in his hostel room. He had a single-room in Hall Four, and was not known to be social.

Associate Professor Michael Heng, who taught him for one class last semester, said he remembered appointing Widjaja as a representative for his tutorial group, but he misunderstood this and thought he had been put in charge of the entire lecture group.

Prof Heng said the student approached him to say that he could not handle such heavy responsibilities. 'Although it was a misunderstanding, he stated his case clearly. I thought he was confident.' Widjaja's family arrived from Indonesia last night and met NTU officials.

Here's a statement from NTU.

A final year student, David Hartanto Widjaja, 21, from the electrical and electronic engineering school is believed to have stabbed Associate Professor Chan Kap Luk, 45, this morning, 2 March 2009, and to have subsequently fallen off the linkway between two blocks.

The ambulance and the police were called immediately. Mr Widjaja was pronounced dead. Mr Widjaja's parents and Prof Chan's family members have been notified. Prof Chan is receiving medical treatment at the National University Hospital and is recovering well.

Here's a bit of story about David as known as Ming Ming (Livinalife).

David Hartanto Widjaya, with his friends knowing him better as Ming Ming, might have just written a history for Nanyang Tech. Somehow it seems like a criticism for lecturers' way of treating their students, and the stress level a typical final year student has to suffer..

Ming Ming has been known as a carefree student by some of his peers, many people know him as a keen player of World of Warcraft 3, which is played through the local network in NTU..

Knowing him as a keen gamer, his friends had never imagined that Ming Ming would do such an act, attacking his final year project supervisor and committing suicide. A friend of mine noticed a slight change in Ming Ming about a week ago, when somehow he stopped getting into contacts with his friends, he didn't go to the details, but I'm guessing things like MSN chat and all..

While I think the attack on the professor was very well planned out, the suicide attempt was not the original idea. The way he slit his own wrist before jumping off the building from the second floor (the 'ground' floor was Basement 6) suggesting hesitation in the act. Probably he thought it was easy to suicide by slitting wrist, but we all know it isn't, people usually stopped the moment they start feeling the pain..

The university authorities called a last minute forum to find more information about this tragedy at 8pm the same day. Hopefully by tomorrow morning we can get the big picture of the tragedy..

He was such a bright student and must have been very educated as he got in NTU by a scholarship. What's so strange is why such an educated person would do something like that? The problem must have been really serious. It could also be the 'environment' surrounding him that supported his act. I'm not assuming anything so serious to create a controversy but trying to analyze the case so maybe there's something we can learn from this.

Anyway, a very good friend of mine Marcus who is also a NTU student was very close to the 'crime scene'. He was also at the campus when the incident happened. In fact he was having a meeting. We were talking about it online a few hours after that. I could understand that he was in 'shock'. Who would not be? He even went to the 'crime scene' and noticed some blood on the ground.

What a tragic. All I can and would like to say is I hope he rests in peace up there while the lecturer gets better as well.

Just regret a bit. Why had to be an Indonesian? I only hope this won't create a worse image of Indonesian people in other countries. The fact that David stabbed his lecturer could be done by anyone. So, let's not think it had to do with his nationality or race.

Some pictures by Strait Times.

Add.: What's a bit scary is that I used to use the way to go from Electrical and Electronics Engineering campus to SCI campus (just a building next to EEE) and use the bridge where he jumped off and take the lift and get off where the body was found, before I found a shorter way. I felt eerie at one point to know the scene was a place I used quite a lot.

Update (11pm March 3 Singapore time) from Marcus (taken from his comment to this post):

"Apparently the reason he killed himself was because his scholarship was revoked for some reason.

I knew that last Saturday I chatted for almost an hour with an Indonesian student from Jakarta. I didn't remember his name but I remember it was a Christian one. I just spoke to someone who was in the same place and it was confirmed that this was David. Although I don't really know him this really hits home.

He was a straight-A student on a scholarship. His supervisor wasn't the reason he lost his scholarship but was an easy target."

Here I give more details and facts about David's death. I took this from one of the comments below made by ladiesman-217 (March 6, 2009 10:32 PM). I'm not saying I agreed with it but just giving you another perspective of the case. Read it, it's very interesting. Trust me.

Hello, first thing's first I would like to share information with you that might not have been responsibly conveyed to you all. Judging from the way you comment on David's death I am certain that the new facts and evidence that has been witnessed by David's parents and confirmed by Singapore police - has yet to reach you, which I understand was NOT so fervently reported by any Singapore media as the allegations made by Singapore media (Yes the media and not the local police)
1. The reports Singaporean media made on David's wristwound slit is FALSE.
According to an interview by Radio ElShinta and RCTI (respectively the two are very reputable Indonesian Radio and Television News Channel)There are no wounds what so ever in David's wrist.
And to add to the question, David himself suffered wounds on his neck (throat?) and back similar to that of SLASHES from a sharp object (the knife everybody's talking about and yet so scarcely seen)
2. Statement made about David's depression over the revocation of his scholarship - which would lead to his alleged actions, AGAIN IS FALSE.
David already informed his parents about his declining
achievement and his probable situation of losing his scholarship from 3-4 weeks prior to his death. And his family,
being a middle economy family here in Indonesia already expressed that they have no objections whatsovever in paying
his last semester's tuition fee - as stated in the same Indonesian radio and television interview . So again, Singapore media
has misguided you by stating otherwise - that "David kept his parents in the dark on the termination of his scholarship"
- this also concludes that the so called David's so depressed about his study that he resolved on attacking his
FYP professor can - IN THE BEST INTEREST OF RATIO AND REASON - be ruled out or DAVID DID NOT HAVE A MOTIVE TO
ATTACK OR KILL HIS PROFESSOR.
link: http://video.okezone.com/play//2009/03/05/236/7951/keluarga-nilai-kematian-david-penuh-kejanggalan

On the contrary, has anyone sees the professor lately? How come anything that has been accounted for was solely HIS statements,
without any regard to the evidence such as :
1. Whose fingerprints are there on the weapon (knife) and why is the handle of the knife which will surely contain
fingerprints are reported and seen missing in the crime scene photographs?
2. Why was the blood stains so quickly removed from the crime scene, in less than 24 hours by the time David's parents arrived at the office of professor Chan Kap Luk - it has already seemed THAT THE CRIME SCENE HAS BEEN WIPED CLEAN OF BLOOD STAINS AND EVIDENCE! How on earth then would the Singapore police determine whose blood was on what? (including door handle, students documents, professor's documents, etc.)and how would they have any clues on how to reconstruct the murder? In my commoners point a view this already looks like an attempt to tamper with the crime scene - and no I am not a fan of the CSI series.
3. Where are the forensic photographs of the professor's so called stab wound? A singapore media interview with an Indian-Singaporean student states that when he saw the professor ushered to the ambulance what he was able to see was bandages on his shoulder and chest?
4. What are the content of the professor and David' s conversation that has triggered the attack?
It's impossible for an attacker to have no reason for attacking - especially since it is believed that David HAS NOT PRE-MEDITATE his actions - judging from his friends statements who had found him still logged in to the internet to access hisFaceBook until late hours (2:00 AM) AND the fact that he brought a backpack containing a towel and a bottle of drink that his parents has so fervently advise him to regularly take to nourish his body after his actively tiresome days.

With all due respect, I, speaking as David Hartanto Widjaja's fellow Indonesian and fellow SMUK BPK Penabur alumni,that THE SINGAPOREAN MEDIA REFRAIN FROM MAKING SUCH PREJUDICED STATEMENT EVERYTIME THEY BROADCAST NEWS ABOUT DAVID HARTANTO WIDJAJA and CEASE ALL ATTEMPTS TO CONCEAL FACTS AND EVIDENTS THAT WOULD EVENTUALLY LEAD TO THE TRUTH OF WHAT
HAPPENED ON THE FATEFUL DAY DAVID HARTANTO WIDJAJA WAS CONDEMNED TO HIS DEATH.

I understand that you Singaporeans are all reasonable people and are a very proud nation. And with these bearings
in mind, I certainly am sure you do not wish to tarnish your international image with such unadmirable doings.
Therefore, I ask again that you, as a nation, to PUSH YOUR GOVERNMENT TO COMMENCE A THOROUGH AND TRANSPARENT regarding
this case, FOR YOUR OWN COUNTRY'S SAKE AND FOR HONORING THE MEMORY THE DEPARTED DAVID HARTANTO WIDJAJA. Any less would
be a crime and humiliation to the dead.

I also wish you to know that I do not personally know David Hartanto Widjaja nor his family, thus trying to defend him. I am simply laying the facts for you since I know, even until this day, I have not seen ONE Singapore media that has made corrections for their mis-information be it deliberate or un-deliberate. As an Indonesian, sure I would like him to be innocent, but as an objective observer I gain no advantage if this case point towards either David or the professor. I also state that I have not studied in Singapore ever or take part in any business venture there, and there is no way I would have known or met professor Chan Kap Luk - therefore I have no reason whatsoever to despise him or be classified as his enemy.

links :
http://manusialempung.blogspot.com/2009/03/fact-about-david-hartantos-incident.html
http://manusialempung.blogspot.com/2009/03/another-speculation-logical-thinking.html

Oh yes, if you are still speculating about his mental condition my advice is to try this address : http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=54863351036&ref=mf

There you can see that his friends statements so far that he is a positive, outgoing and cheerful person is not an exagerration (Use google translator if you do not speak Bahasa, Malaysian are considered to will have less trouble in reading this since you speak Melyu am I correct?). I am posting this to counterbalance the only polaroid photo with him on a red background and a sad (or troubled or anything that may come across your mind) expression on his face which Singapore Media has let "speak".

Here's my latest opinion of David's case due to the most current comments I received (March 7, 2009 9:50 AM).

To be honest guys, after reading all the current comments I am now a little confused in a way that I don't know which story I should believe. Every comment you posted has reasonable reasons to be true.

If he did not kill himself, who did? There were at least 5 witnesses saying he jumped off the roof. I've been around the place where he jumped. The uni fence is not really 'that' easy to climb but if you try to climb it it's possible. So if some of you think that he might have just fallen off by accident, someone must have pushed him from behind. But that's not what the witnesses have seen. David was alone.

It could be just that he did what's called a responsibility. After he stabbed the prof he might have been sure that the prof was dying and going to die. If he just ran away that would not help him with nothing but even a bigger problem. So he might have thought of killing himself and in fact he did just to be responsible.

A real criminal in his position after stabbing someone would just run away and hide. That is a real criminal. Some decide to kill themselves because it's part of their responsibility of what they've done.