Immigration official commits suicide

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Mon, 03/06/2006 7:45 AM  |  Jakarta

TANGERANG: Fearing a severe prison sentence, immigration official Maruli Panjaitan ended his life by hanging himself with a rope tied to the top of his bed at his house in Cipondoh, Tangerang on Saturday morning.

Last week Maruli, 45, attended marathon interrogation sessions with airport police over his alleged role in the departure of illegal migrant workers to Qatar and Jordan.

Family members said the night before Maruli, who looked depressed, was seen walking back and forth on the second floor in the house.

Budi, Maruli's brother-in-law, said the family became more suspicious when Maruli had not come out of his room by morning. Budi, along with the victim's wife, Atun, then forced open the door.

Maruli, who had worked at the airport immigration office for five years, had been named a suspect by the police for paving the way for the departure of illegal migrant workers. Maruli also worked for a migrant worker agency.

Airport Police chief Sr. Comr. Guntur Setyanto said that Maruli was questioned by the police on Monday and Friday.

Several other immigration officers and four directors of labor recruitment companies were also questioned in the same case. --JP

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