More expats found dead in Jakarta

More expats found dead in Jakarta

Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Alone in Jakarta during business trips, or on short-time working
contracts, foreigners are increasingly becoming targets for
crime.

Less than two weeks after German and Australian nationals were
murdered in their rented houses, a Japanese identified as Isamu
Otsu was found dead last Friday in Park Lane Hotel, South
Jakarta.

Although there were no signs of violence found on Otsu's body
-- who was found lying face down in the bathroom with blood
around his nose -- police have not ruled out the possibility that
he was murdered.

"We are still waiting for laboratory results. We have also
questioned several witnesses and examined other evidence,"
general crimes unit chief at the Jakarta Police Sr. Comr. Suhardi
Alius told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.

On Aug. 22, German citizen Helmut Kleinen was found dead in
his bedroom in his rented house in Jl. Bangka, South Jakarta.

On the same day, police arrested Kleinen's domestic helper and
the latter's two friends as suspects of murder.

Earlier in mid August, Australian Frans Luis Merre, 70, was
found dead in his house in the Tugu subdistrict of Depok.

Police suspect that the Australian was murdered by relatives
of his domestic helper. Police said that they were still trying
to find their whereabouts.

This year, several foreigners from South Korea, Russia, and
Japan, have been found dead in their hotels, apartments or rented
houses.

"We acknowledge that foreign nationals are being targeted by
criminals as many live alone and isolate themselves from their
surrounding area. Criminals will take advantage of such a
situation," Suhardi said.

He added that sometimes it could be many days before the
police became aware that a foreign resident had been murdered.

"We do in fact take special security measures to protect
certain areas where foreigners live, but we can't guard them one
by one because of limited numbers of personnel," he said.

"Foreign nationals should select helpers or assistants
carefully to make sure they can be trusted."