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.