Policeman commits suicide in church

Policeman commits suicide in church

Slamet Susanto, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta

Yogyakartans woke up on Monday morning to the news that a police
officer had killed himself inside a church.

Witnesses said the officer, Second Brig. Yohanes Widiyanto
Yeni, 24, committed suicide by shooting himself in the head in
front of a statue of the Virgin Mary holding the baby Jesus
inside St. Antonius Church in Kotabaru after a morning service.

Widiyanto was a member of the Cirebon Police's intelligence
division and an adjutant to the Cirebon Police deputy chief,
Yogyakarta Police chief Adj. Comr. Condro Kirono said.

A witness said Widiyanto entered the church at about 6:30 a.m.
and took a seat in a back pew. There were about 10 people in the
church when the suicide took place.

"He looked restless, walking back and forth, and appeared
panicked," said Agustinus Nyono, who is a cleaner at the church.

He said Widiyanto was not in uniform.

At about 7:30 a.m. two gunshots rang out in the church,
apparently fired from Widiyanto's service revolver.

It is unknown why the officer fired two shots, but Yogyakarta
Police detectives said only one bullet pierced Widiyanto's skull.

Local police took the body to Dr. Sardjito Hospital for an
autopsy.

"We are still investigating the motive for the suicide,"
Yogyakarta Police detectives chief Comr. A. Supardan said.

Police removed from the scene the revolver, Widiyanto's
motorcycle and two ID cards, one stating that he was a resident
of the Kalicodet police housing complex in Cirebon and the other
a vehicle ownership license under the name of Magdalena Yuliati,
a resident of Rancaekek, Cirebon.

Condro said Widiyanto, who was single, was last seen in his
office on Saturday.

"According to Cirebon Police deputy chief Comr. Imam Prakosa,
Yohanes was a quiet and introverted young man. We are now waiting
for the Cirebon Police to arrive and find a motive," said Condro.

Police are also expecting the arrival of Widiyanto's family
from his hometown of Purwakarta, West Java.

This is not the first time a police officer has committed
suicide.

In January last year, Kampar Police detectives chief First
Insp. Jhontua D. Hutagalung, 32, killed himself because of family
problems.

Jhontua reportedly attempted suicide at least three times
while serving as Tanjungpinang Police chief in the Riau Islands
in 2003. In response to these attempts, his superior officers
prohibited him from carrying a firearm.

Economic hardship has been cited as the main motive for
suicides in the country.