Wife admits ordering hit on Brit businessman husband found dead in Bali field

The wife of a British businessman who was found with his throat slashed and dumped in a Bali rice field has admitted ordering his murder, police have said. Julaikah Noor Ellis, 45, was arrested on Tuesday night after reporting the disappearance of her 60-year-old husband Robert earlier in the day. His body was found by a farmer in a ditch in the Bangdun region of the Indonesian island. Mr Ellis’ arms and legs had been tied up and his body wrapped in plastic. There were deep gashes in his neck.

Based on the victim’s wife’s confession, she wanted to take over victim’s wealth.

Badung police chief Komang Suartana

Badung police chief Komang Suartana said marital problems and money were among the possible motives for the murder. Mr Suartana claimed Noor Ellis, an Indonesian citizen, was at home at the couple’s luxury villa when the killer she had hired slashed her husband’s throat in the kitchen. A man accused of being the killer was arrested in Padangbai, a port in eastern Bali, where he was allegedly trying to flee to Lombok island. Two maids were also in custody, while police are still hunting a further four suspects. Police initially said Mr Ellis was an Australian citizen, but subsequently said he was a British passport-holder who had lived in Australia for many years.

She says she was hurt by the victim. There were many factors, one of them that her husband was frequently cheating on her.

Komang Suartana

Asia-Pacific Bali body