Man found dead at apartment, police suspect foul play

Man found dead at apartment, police suspect foul play

JAKARTA (JP): The dead body of a man, believed to be an employee at the attorney general's office, was found yesterday afternoon inside his rented house in Kebayoran Lama, West Jakarta.

The body of Asnawi, 50, was found by one of his sons, Ismail, after he was told by neighbors that there was an offensive smell coming from the house in the Gang Idrus alley.

Eyewitnesses and police detectives at the scene told The Jakarta Post that the body had several bruises, including some on his neck.

"One of them was a serious wound," said a detective from the city police's special rapid reaction unit, who added his strong suspicion of murder.

Asnawi was found lying on a bed, wearing pajamas with his legs tied, said eyewitnesses.

According to Syarif, 27, a next-door neighbor, Asnawi began renting the two-bedroom house last year.

"We have no idea of the whereabouts of his wife and children, only his 20-year-old nephew Heri, with whom he lived," he said, adding that police were still searching for the university student.

Syarif said that the house had been locked from outside since Friday and that the police had found three copies of the Kompas daily on the doorstep in front of the house.

"Heri came on Friday and took a nap on the veranda because the house was locked," he said.

Police are still investigating the case, though police forensic experts have already collected fingerprints and other evidence from the scene of the crime.(bsr)