Reporter Captures the Real Mrs. Dewi—Anger, Reactions, and Personality Amid Assault Scandal
At the luxury hotel Aspen Club Lodge
Talent Dewi Sukarno, also known as Mrs. Dewi (85), was reported on January 23 to have been sent documents for assault charges against a manager working at her agency.
The incident occurred late at night on October 28 last year. At an animal hospital in Shibuya, Tokyo, Mrs. Dewi was informed of the death of her hospitalized pet dog and became enraged inside the facility. She reportedly kicked walls and caused a commotion, assaulting a female manager in her 30s who tried to restrain her, causing minor injuries. Police officers arrived after receiving a report.
This was not the first assault-related trouble involving Mrs. Dewi.
Most recently, in April of last year, she was sent documents over a separate assault on another female staff member of her office, unrelated to the October incident. In addition, she has frequently been in the news for such incidents.
Among these, the most striking event was in 1992 in Aspen, Colorado, USA.
At an international party held at a luxury resort hotel, Mrs. Dewi got into a verbal argument with a female acquaintance and struck her in the face with a champagne glass. The victim sustained serious injuries requiring 37 stitches, and Mrs. Dewi was arrested for assault. She received a guilty verdict (60 days imprisonment and a $750 fine) and was detained.
I spent four days covering Mrs. Dewi while she was in detention.
In light of the recent document submission, I want to recount the personality of Mrs. Dewi that I actually saw and heard during that coverage.
The incident occurred at the Aspen Club Lodge, a top-class hotel at Aspen Ski Resort. The event was a commemorative party hosted by the owner of the former German royal family, with about 200 guests from around the world.
Among the attendees were American oil tycoons, famous models, entertainment figures, and the former wife of Donald Trump, who was already known as a wealthy figure at the time.
As classical music played live, and conversation and dancing continued, the incident happened around 10:20 p.m. near the entrance.
The other party involved was Mrs. Victoria M. Osmeña, known in New York high society as “Minnie.” She came from a prestigious family, with a grandfather who was a former president of the Philippines and a father who was an opposition leader.
Not in a prison uniform, but in a sweatshirt and leggings
Not in a prison uniform, but in a sweatshirt and leggings
The two women had once been as close as sisters. However, due to various circumstances, they had become estranged by that time.
With alcohol involved and emotions running high, a certain remark by Mrs. Osmeña enraged Mrs. Dewi. In the next instant, the champagne glass in her hand was swung down.
Our team was the first from Japan to cover the story.
It was a joint interview with me, then a reporter for the afternoon wide show Time 3 (Fuji TV), and a weekly magazine journalist.
When Mrs. Dewi appeared at the detention center, she was not in a prison uniform but dressed casually in a sweatshirt and leggings—a sporty, light outfit. In the heated room, she had just been on an exercise bike in the fitness room. She did not look like someone who had been arrested at all.
She said:
“The food here is good, and this is the best prison in the world. Isn’t it kind of like a country club?”
When I asked about the incident:
“The victim sustained 37 stitches to her face,”
she immediately replied:
“I am an Eastern woman. No matter how angry I get, I would never do something to hurt a woman’s face.”
Furthermore, she spoke in a strong tone:
“The glass just hit her when she grabbed my hand.”
“I still don’t accept the guilty verdict.”
What came across in her words was not apology or regret, but indignation over her own situation.
On the last day of the coverage, Mrs. Dewi had an accident and had to be taken to the hospital. While heading to a volunteer house with the press team, her left arm was grazed by a car as she tried to cross the street. Ten years later, when I met her again at Haneda Airport and expressed concern about that accident, she laughed and said:
“Oh? Did that really happen?”
Including the injury caused by the champagne glass, it seemed that she had forgotten it as a thing of the past.
Does the word regret even exist for this person? The recent document submission reminded me of that thought.
Interview and text by Mitsutoshi Abe (former TV reporter)： Mitsutoshi Abe (former TV reporter, political journalist) PHOTO： Kazuhiko Nakamura