Evidence seems to indicate Manimaren's suicide

Evidence seems to indicate Manimaren's suicide

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Police are still investigating the death of high-profile
businessman Marimutu Manimaren, who apparently jumped from the
56-floor of the Aston Hotel on Jl. Garnisun Setiabudi in South
Jakarta early Tuesday morning.

"We are still investigating the case although so far all clues
point to suicide," Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Prasetyo
told The Jakarta Post on Friday.

Prasetyo said police had not found any indication of foul
play.

Manimaren, 46, is the younger brother of Marimutu Sinivasan,
the president director of the country's largest textile firm, PT
Texmaco Jaya, which is believed to be in financial difficulty.

Manimaren, the former deputy treasurer of the Golkar party,
had recently been summoned by the House of Representatives in
connection with the government's controversial decision to buy
fighter jets from Russia. He denied any knowledge of the deal,
through he did accompany President Megawati Soekarnoputri to
Russia when the deal was made.

Many relatives and friends of Manimaren, who was buried on
Wednesday at the Kedung Kandang cemetery in Ciganjur, South
Jakarta, doubted Manimaren committed suicide.

Committing suicide would have been entirely out of character
for Manimaren, who was known to be cheerful, dynamic and a strong
and resilient person, those who knew him said.

Prasetyo said a hotel employee had offered Manimaren a room
close to the ground, but he insisted on reserving a room on the
top floor.

Manimaren had reserved the room from Sunday but only checked
in at 10:30 p.m. on Monday night.

Police were forced to saw the lock to enter the room, which
had been locked from the inside.

"Later, we found that the room key (in the form of card) was
in his wallet on his person," Prasetyo said.

Prasetyo said police had only found fingerprints belonging to
Manimaren in the room.

Setiabudi Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Kusdaryanto said earlier
that the businessman, of Indian descent, was alone when the
incident took place.

"I saw a footprint on the table leaning against the window ...
It means that he deliberately jumped off," said Kusdaryanto.

Manimaren did not leave any suicide note in his room, priced
at Rp 950,000 (US$111) per night.

Manimaren is involved with three textile companies, namely PT
Ungaran Sari Garments in Central Java, and PT Citra Abadi Sejati
and PT Busana Perkasa Garments both in Bogor, West Java. There
are understood to be no financial problems.