Former Australian student arrested over alleged Indonesian cyanide murder

Died: Wayan Mirna Salihin. Photo: Facebook

Jakarta: A young Indonesian woman has been arrested over the suspected poisoning murder of her friend with whom she studied in Australia.

Wayan Mirna Salihin, 27, died in Jakarta earlier this month after having an iced coffee with her friends - known as Jessica Kumala and Hani.

It is believed her drink was laced with cyanide.

An image from Wayan Mirna Salihin's funeral. Photo: Facebook

Following weeks of investigations, Jakarta police arrested Jessica Kumala on Saturday morning and named her as a suspect.

Jakarta Police Chief Detective Krishna Murti said they have gathered around 20 witness statements, including evidence from experts, and have also conducted a re-enactment.

"Jessica's statement is highly inconsistent with the facts we have gathered," Detective Krishna Murti told reporters.

"We will confirm whether her statement as a suspect is still consistent with her one as a witness or if she will give another statement."

It comes after Jakarta officers approached Australian Federal Police (AFP) earlier this month to look into the relationship between Mirna and the friends during their time studying together, reportedly at Sydney's Billy Blue College of Design and Swinburne University of Technology.

Jessica Kumala continued to work in Australia after her graduation in 2008, moving back to Indonesia in December last year.

Jessica Kumala, who denies involvement in Ms Mirna Salihin's death, was the one who ordered the Vietnamese iced coffee that allegedly killed the 27-year-old, police say.

Ms Mirna Salihin took only a sip of the coffee and complained it tasted bad, before she collapsed and began convulsing, and was confirmed dead a short time later in hospital.

It is understood AFP is considering the request by Jakarta police for assistance.