Man in Lombok Drowns Himself Over Online Gambling Debts, Leaves Heartbreaking Letters

A man identified as AH, 58, was found dead tied to a sandbag on the shore of Tanjung Busur Beach, Akar-Akar Village, Bayan District, North Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB). Police discovered two letters in his trouser pocket written in the Sasak language.

In the first letter, the victim wrote: ‘Pacu-pacu tadah dek, ca HP kon kantong selanangku jari kenang kenanganku, ingat suruk Jowar mbait sampino.’ (Take care, okay? That phone in my trouser pocket, keep it as a memento from me. Remember to tell Jowar to take the cow.)

The second letter contained a farewell message to his family, confessing he had many burdens and asking them to look after themselves. ‘Ijal suruk Jowar mbait sampini, aku lalo, bebanku luwek, jaga dirik, dik wah nakal,’ he wrote. (Ijal, tell Jowar to take this cow, I am leaving, I have many burdens, take care of yourself, don’t be naughty.)

After finding the letters, the family checked the victim’s mobile phone. Initial police examination revealed numerous messages related to loan repayments and a history of online lottery gambling.

‘Based on the facts discovered, including the contents of the victim’s phone, preliminary conclusions indicate the victim deliberately ended his life due to economic pressure and psychological distress caused by online gambling,’ said Iptu I Komang Wilandra, Head of Criminal Investigation at Mataram Police.

The victim was found with a blue nylon rope tied tightly around his waist, connected to a shrimp feed sack filled with 25 kilograms of sand. The discovery caused shock among local residents. Police believe the victim intentionally tied the sandbag to his waist to act as a weight, ensuring he would sink directly to the seabed.