Police continue suicide probe

Police continue suicide probe

JAKARTA (JP): Police decided yesterday that the businessman
found dead in a Central Jakarta hospital compound on Monday
morning committed suicide.

"However, we're still waiting for the results from the
forensic examiners," city police spokesman Lt. Col. Iman Haryatna
told The Jakarta Post yesterday.

According to Central Jakarta police chief Lt. Col. Murawi
Effendi, the preliminary conclusion is based on the material
evidence available, circumstances at the scene, witnesses and
interviews with the victim's relatives.

"There were no signs of any struggle," Murawi told the Post.

Moreover, all nurses, doctors and visitors close to the scene
at the time have said they heard no screams, he said.

The corpse of Hardi Tjandra (not Tjandra Tjandra as reported
yesterday), 58, was found under a tree beside the surgery room of
the Husada hospital in Central Jakarta by visitors and on-duty
nurses at 6:30 a.m. on Monday.

The body had three stab wounds to the neck and stomach. Two
knives were still stuck in him, and another was found close by.

Police discovered a signed note in Hardi's pocket, saying he
wanted to kill himself after failing to handle the labor dispute
at his factory, PT BTMHH, in Bekasi, 35 kilometers east of the
capital.

As of yesterday, police had not confirmed the motive, but a
reliable police source told the Post the reason might have been
connected with problems Hardi faced at his factory and with his
family.

"We need more information from his relatives about Hardi's
life and business activities," Murawi said.

"In the meantime, we don't want to disturb the family who is
mourning his death," he said.

According to a reliable source, who refused to be named, one
of the three knives was identified as being owned by Hardi's
family.

Murawi said Hardi, who lived near the hospital, is believed to
have entered the hospital's compound on Jl. Mangga Besar Raya in
the early hours of Monday, pretending that he was going to visit
a relative who was often treated at the hospital.

"The victim was recognized as a regular visitor by many
nurses, doctors and security guards at the hospital," Murawi
said.

Hardi's corpse was collected by his relatives on Monday
evening. They refused to allow doctors at the Cipto Mangunkusumo
general hospital to perform an autopsy.

"The doctors told me they carried out a postmortem
examination, which is enough for our investigation," Murawi said.
(bsr)