Mining Company PR Officer Found Dead in Konawe Following Domestic Dispute

KONAWE — A man identified by the initials JP (32), who worked as a public relations officer at major mining firm PT Obsidian Stainless Steel (OSS) Morosi, was found dead hanging from a tree in a plantation area belonging to residents of Paku Jaya Village, Morosi District, Konawe Regency, on Wednesday evening, 11 June 2025.

Bondoala Police Sector Chief IPTU Heder Payapo confirmed that the victim was strongly suspected of having taken his own life following a quarrel with his wife, Yunita. The argument took place the day before JP’s body was discovered.

“The victim and his wife were involved in a dispute on Tuesday afternoon, 10 June, at around 13:00 WITA at their home,” said IPTU Heder Payapo on Thursday (12/06/2025).

The argument was overheard by family members. The victim’s elder sister, who was in the house at the time, urged the couple not to argue outside in order to avoid attracting the neighbours’ attention.

Shortly afterwards, at around 13:30 WITA, a family member named Adi saw JP leave the house carrying a nylon rope. When asked where he was going, the victim merely pointed towards a plantation on the banks of the Konaweeha River and said briefly, “I’m going over there, I’m going to kill myself.”

Adi attempted to follow him to the indicated location but was unable to find the victim. The following day, Indah, the victim’s elder sister, reported to the Paku Village community police officer, Aipda Hendra, that her brother had not returned home since the previous day. A missing person report was filed and family members along with local residents began searching the surrounding area.

The search ended in tragedy. At 22:00 WITA, the Village Head of Paku, Asmun Barli, telephoned Aipda Hendra to report that JP had been found lifeless. His body was hanging from a tree in the very plantation area he had previously pointed to.

“At 22:30 WITA we arrived at the location to conduct a crime scene examination and evacuate the victim to the family home,” said IPTU Heder.

An external examination conducted by Morosi Community Health Centre staff found no signs of violence or assault on JP’s body, apart from ligature marks on the neck. The family declined an autopsy and accepted the victim’s death as a tragedy.