Man commits suicide after Ambon tragedy

Man commits suicide after Ambon tragedy

JAKARTA (JP): A 52-year-old man was found dead on the third
floor of his house on Jl. Kartini Raya in Sawah Besar, Central
Jakarta, on Friday evening.

Local police officers said on Saturday they suspected the
victim, identified as Teddy Sukian Simoto, committed suicide
after the collapse of his business and the loss of a property he
owned in the riot-torn Ambon in Maluku.

"He was found by his son Charles hanging from a rope tied to
the ceiling," Sawah Besar Police subprecinct detective chief
Second Insp. Robert Sitindjak said.

He quoted the victim's son as saying that Charles immediately
freed his father from the noose and rushed him to a nearby
hospital.

Robert added that victim Teddy died shortly after. His body
was sent to Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital morgue.

"According to Teddy's relatives, he was restless and acting
very weird over the past few days.

"Charles was suspicious on Friday night when he saw Teddy
going upstairs. He followed him and found him hanging from the
ceiling," Robert said.

The victim's relatives confirmed that Teddy's shop and house
in Ambon were gutted during violence in the area recently, the
officer said. (lup)