S. Korean, Indian found dead

JAKARTA (JP): A South Korean and a 20-year-old girl, believed to be from India, were found dead late Thursday in separate incidents in Jakarta and Tangerang.

Both of them appeared to have committed suicide, city police spokesman Lt. Col. Zainuri Lubis said on Friday.

Police identified the Korean as Lie Seong Woo, 36, while the girl's identity had not been determined.

Lie was found hanged in the bathroom of his house on Jl. Janur Kuning at Gading Serpong housing complex in Curug, Tangerang.

The unidentified girl was believed to have jumped from a high- rise apartment building in Penjaringan, North Jakarta.

According to Lubis, Lie's body was found by his friend Kim Soo Jin, who lived nearby.

"Lie was found dead in the bathroom off his bedroom at around 11:30 p.m. on Thursday, hanging from a yellow rope around his neck attached to the doorframe," Lubis said.

The bedroom was locked from the inside. It was battered down by Kim and others.

Police quoted Lie's housemaid Kustinah as saying the victim had earlier asked her to deliver a letter to fellow Korean Kong Pil Hu. In the letter, Lie asked for an apology from all his countrymen for his past mistakes.

As Kong was not at home, Kustinah returned to the house, where she met Kim, who had been waiting for Lie.

"The housemaid told the guest that her employer was in his room, as he told her earlier that he felt dizzy," Lubis said.

Kim became suspicious when there was no answer after he knocked on the door several times.

Chief of Curug Police subprecinct First Lt. Harun Idrus said police would question Lie's friends and employees regarding the reason for his suicide.

"We have questioned three people, including his housemaid and two of his friends," Harun said.

Meanwhile, the girl was found dead by a Mitra Bahari apartments employee, Samsunar, at around 11 p.m.

Samsunar said he had no clues about the incident.

"From her physical characteristics, police identified the victim as Indian," Lubis said.

A worker at the Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital morgue in Central Jakarta, where the body was kept, described the victim as having a sharp nose and dark brown skin.

"She could be either Indian or Arabian," he said. (emf/01/41)