Briton found dead in his apartment

JAKARTA (JP): A diabetic Briton was found dead in his apartment in the Setiabudi district, South Jakarta, yesterday, police said.

The victim was identified as David Geschal, 48, a manufacturing director for PT Pirelli Cables Indonesia, an Italian joint venture company.

He was discovered by an employee of the Lippo Apartment who was alerted by Geschal's driver.

The driver, Anes, had become suspicious when Geschal did not come down on time. He was usually very punctual.

He asked the apartment staff to phone Geschal's room, and on getting no reply, the two entered the room using a spare key, said Fauzi, a Pirelli employee.

The Briton came to Jakarta a year ago and lived alone. His family lived in England, Fauzi said.

The South Jakarta Police said they were investigating the cause of his death.

They estimated that Geschal died three to four hours before his death was reported at 10 a.m.

Police said the Briton was admitted to a private hospital in Jakarta suffering from diabetes six months ago.

Colleagues from Pirelli visited the Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital's morgue yesterday to identify the body.

A police autopsy would be carried out as soon as his wife arrived from England to give her approval, Keith, who said he was one of David's close friends, said.

"I was very shocked to hear this news because the last time I saw David was on Friday, and he was all right. He called me on Saturday, he did not sound sick at all," said Keith, who declined to give his surname.

"He was a good boss for us. He was very generous and friendly," Andreas, another Pirelli employee, said. (04)