German diplomat found dead

A military attache for the German Embassy in Jakarta was found dead on Tuesday afternoon in the restroom in the embassy in Menteng, Central Jakarta.

The body of Peter Kuester, 47, was found by embassy staff shortly after 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Tjiptono said on Wednesday.

Staff alerted police at 10 p.m. who took the body to the Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital in Central Jakarta, Tjiptono said.

Tjiptono said Kuester was found in the restroom with a gunshot wound to the head. Police did not believe the death was suspicious.

Jakarta Police detective chief Sr. Comr. Mathius Salempang said as the death was on German territory, Indonesian police had to be invited in to the embassy conduct an investigation or autopsy.

"However, in this case, (Kuester's) family has asked the government not to perform an autopsy," he added. "We can understand the request, so we will not order an autopsy and are now asking from the embassy for a letter saying the embassy acknowledges the request."

A German Embassy official confirmed the death of one of the embassy's staff members while in the office.

"I can confirm the death of one of our colleagues," press relations officer Monika Allramseder said.

At 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Kuester's body was taken by an embassy staff member to the Abadi Funeral Home on Jl. Daan Mogot, West Jakarta, news portal Tempointeraktif.com reported.

The report said Kuester lived in Jakarta for at least two years at an apartment in Menteng. Kuester, whose military rank was captain, was a reticent man, the report said.-- JP