Fri, 08 Dec 2000

Inmate found dead in police cell

JAKARTA (JP): An inmate was found dead, early on Wednesday morning, in a cell at the Menteng Police subprecinct in Central Jakarta.

Yohannes Dewa, 27, died after he hung himself, using shoe- laces wound tightly around his neck, from the ceiling of the cell. His body was found as a police officer conducted a regular inspection to several cells at 5:30 a.m. Wednesday.

The officer was looking into the cell, occupied solely by Yohannes, when he found the inmate dead.

Yohannes, a resident of Bumi Naya housing complex in Rangkasbitung, Banten province, was admitted to the R.S. Soekanto police hospital in Kramat Jati, East Jakarta, for an examination.

Yohannes was arrested on Monday for allegedly stealing a television remote control in a house located nearby the flush Menteng area. (asa)