German diplomat found dead

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