Corpse found at Governor Office

MALUKU, Ambon: A body was found on Tuesday on the second floor of the Maluku governor's office in Ambon, only a month before the office was set to be re-opened by President Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Police said the body was the remains of Marselus Pawembum, 41, a security guard at the office, located on Jl. Kapitan Pattimura here.

Amdon Islands Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Teguh Budi Prasodjo, said the body was found by a construction worker at the office.

Investigations showed Marselus had died after he was attacked by three intoxicated people on Monday night, Teguh said.

The incident began at 10 p.m when the three people were drunk in the compound. Marselus warned them they had to stop drinking and seized their alcoholic drinks.

The three began to attack Marselus. They chased Marselus to the third floor and again beat him, killing him. They then threw him down on to the second floor and fled, Teguh said.

One suspect Fadli Sopalatu, 26, has surrendered to police.

The office of Maluku governor was gutted on April 3, 2002, when a sectarian riot caused a fire in the building.

It has been rebuilt since peace returned to Maluku last year, and will be re-opened by Megawati in early April. -- JP