Like husband, like wife

JAKARTA (JP): A mother of three children committed suicide by drinking insecticide yesterday after her husband killed himself in the same way 40 days ago.

The death of Indah Purwaningsih, 35, came as no surprise to neighbors and relatives who said she had previously tried to kill herself by swallowing insecticide.

Indah, who died in her rented house on Jl. Budi Mulia, Pademangan district in North Jakarta, where her husband ended his life by drinking insecticide 40 days ago, had looked gloomy and preferred to be alone in her room, according to neighbors.

Her relatives and neighbors said that Indah's husband, Totok Rusdianto, a 42-year-old architect who graduated in Germany, had become very depressed after being fired from work.

Indah had written letters to some neighbors, asking them to take care of her three children after she was gone.

Neighbors said the husband and wife had opened a rice stall to make ends meet. However, for Totok, losing his job was a heavy blow.

Indah is survived by three children, Talita, 12, Mario, 10, and Aryo, 8.

Talita told The Jakarta Post yesterday that one day before her mother's death, Indah asked her to look after her brothers.

Talita found her mother on the floor in her bedroom yesterday morning with an empty can of insecticide next to her body.

Talita said she and her brothers will move to their grandfather's home in Pasuruan, East Java.

Totok was buried at Menteng Pulo, in Central Jakarta, while Indah will be buried in her hometown of Pasuruan. (jun)